Duterte decision on possible Metro Manila GCQ out before weekend: DILG

President Rodrigo Duterte will decide before the weekend whether or not to further loosen the coronavirus lockdown of some 12 million people in Metro Manila, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Wednesday.

An inter-agency task force on Wednesday will finalize its lockdown recommendations for Duterte, said DILG Secretary Eduardo Año.

"Ini-expect natin na bukas hanggang Friday ay makakapagdesisyon ang ating Pangulo," he told DZMM.

(We expect that our President will decide between Thursday and Friday.)

Mayors want only one type of lockdown to be imposed across the whole Metro Manila, he said.

The region, which accounts for a third of the gross domestic product, is under modified quarantine until May 31, which reboots the economy by allowing select industries to to operate up to 50-percent capacity.

A looser general community quarantine or GCQ will let almost all industries will be allowed to operate up to 75 percent except amusement centers and those with mass gatherings.

GCQ also allows "zoning" or stricter lockdown in certain barangays or streets, said Año.

DZMM, May 27, 2020