By Fernan Angeles
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is all set to make an announcement Monday night covering new community quarantine classifications in the country.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, in his capacity as vice chair of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19, said they have already been advised to meet with the President on Monday night, Nov. 30, to discuss the new quarantine classifications.
Immediately after the meeting, the President would make a public address to announce the new classifications.
Duterte earlier placed the National Capital Region and six other areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) from November 1 to 30 to further prevent the spread of COVID-19.
NTF COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said Metro Manila mayors have already submitted their position – they wanted the region to remain under GCQ during the holiday season.
“Kailangan pakinggan din natin yung kanilang opinyon at ang kanilang rekomendasyon. Gayunpaman, actually, nakapag-usap usap na rin naman ang ating mga mayor, at sa kanila, patapusin natin ang Christmas under GCQ,” he said.
“Nangangamba tayo kasi na baka magkaroon ng spike or surge kapag ang mga tao ay maglabasan at maggawa ng kung anu-anong activities katulad ng party, caroling,” he added.
A total of 427,797 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the Philippines, of which 31,402 are active while 8,333 are fatalities.