MANILA, Philippines – Ipagbabawal muna ang operasyon ng community pantries sa Metro Manila habang nasa ilalim ng enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) ang rehiyon.

Ayon kay Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos, napagkasunduan ito ng mga alkalde sa Metro Manila upang mapigilan ang super spreader events.

“As much as possible kasi ang purpose ng ECQ ay talagang huwag lumabas ng bahay, kung magpapa-pila tayo sa labas at magbibigay tayo, baka magkagulo (ang mga tao),” ani Abalos.

Isasailalim sa ECQ ang Metro Manila simula sa Agosto 6 hanggang sa Agosto 20.

Sa panahong ito, tanging essential o mahahalagang biyahe at serbisyo lamang ang papayagan. Mas pinahaba rin ang curfew hours sa Metro Manila mula alas-8 ng gabi hanggang alas-4 ng madaling araw.

Layunin ng hakbang na mapigilan ang lalo pang pagtaas ng kaso ng COVID-19 sa harap na rin ng banta ng mga mas nakakahawang coronavirus variants.

Ngunit paglilinaw ni Abalos, maaari pa rin namang magsagawa ng outreach programs kung nais ng sinuman na makatulong sa mga nangangailangan ngunit dapat ay gawin ito sa mas maayos na paraan.

“Siguro kung talagang gustong tumulong, wala namang problema ro’n pero siguro gumawa tayo ng magandang sistema,” ani Abalos.

Payo ng MMDA sa mga organizer ng community pantries, makipag-ugnayan muna sa mga lokal na pamahalaan para sa gagawin nilang sistema ng distribusyon ng ayuda, gaya ng paghahatid sa bahay ng mga magiging benepisyaryo nito. – RRD (mula sa ulat ni Correspondent Marvin Calas)

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Monday (August 2) the suspension of the truck ban along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.

The MMDA said this is to ensure unhampered movement of essential goods during the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to 20.

Meanwhile, the MMDA also said that the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or the number coding scheme remains suspended this month.

The move will give way to the smooth and easy transport of essential goods and of authorized persons outside residence (APOR) as allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force during the implementation of the strictest quarantine classification in the capital region. —/mbmf

MANILA, Philippines — New curfew hours will be implemented in the National Capital Region as it is placed under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) effective August 6, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The new curfew hours in Metro Manila will be from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.

MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos said the adjustment on curfew hours was approved unanimously by the 17 Metro Manila local chief executives due to the rising number of COVID-19 Delta variant cases in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The standardized and unified curfew hours across the cities and municipalities of NCR will be in effect until August 20.

MMDA Resolution No. 21-16, Series of 2021 states that there is a need to boost vaccination efforts to protect the public against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its variants.

“In view of the ECQ, as warranted by the rising number of COVID-19 Delta Variant cases in the NCR, there is an urgent need to regulate the mobility and movement of persons while at the same time ramping up the vaccination efforts of the National Government and the Local Government Units during the said period in order to broaden population protection,” according to the resolution.

Meanwhile, the MMDA leaves the decision to the Metro Manila local government units on whether or not to impose a liquor ban in their respective jurisdiction.

Valenzuela, Mandaluyong, Parañaque, Pasay, Navotas, Pateros, Quezon City, and San Juan earlier announced they will impose a liquor ban during the ECQ. –AAC