Año said the task force’s recommendation was based on the sudden increase in COVID-19 cases and insufficient capacity in their local healthcare system to handle the COVID-19 outbreak.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 2) — Strict quarantine rules will remain in Albay province and Zamboanga City as approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Disease, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Saturday.
“Mahihirapan silang i-contain kaya kailangan ng EQQ.”
Año told CNN Philippines the task force, of which he is a key member, has received a number of request from local governments for an extension of the enhanced community quarantine or ECQ in their areas, but only that of Albay and Zamboanga were approved.
“The others will have to implement general enhanced community quarantine,” he said.
Other local governments that requested for an extended ECQ are:
-La Union
-Lanao del Norte
-Isabela including Santiago City
-Butuan
-Camarines Sur.
The IATF recommendation for Albay and Zamboanga will need President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval.
Meanwhile, the more relaxed general community quarantine applies to most of the country.
The ECQ remains in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon except Aurora province, the provinces of Pangasinan, Benguet including Baguio City, Iloilo, Cebu including Cebu City, Bacolod City, and Davao City until May 15.
[TRANSLATION: They will have a hard time containing the disease so the ECQ is needed.]
Zamboanga confirmed 19 new infections on Friday, bringing the total number of cases across the city to 30.
Albay has the most number of confirmed cases in Bicol, with 34. To date, there are 43 COVID-19 infections in the region.
