Gov't asked to release Covid policy shift guidelines 

Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro on Tuesday called on national government agencies to already issue guidelines regarding its policy shift in restrictions in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report by GMA News.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, Teodoro lamented that these guidelines are not released yet considering that the pilot test for granular lockdown in Metro Manila will already start on Wednesday.

“Ang hinihintay namin at talagang inuulit-ulit na kailangan natin, mailabas na ng national government agencies natin 'yung mga guidelines na gagamitin natin dito sa policy shift na ito,” he said.

He pointed out that concerned agencies should already issue guidelines for the possible opening of construction services, personal care businesses, more modes of transportation, face-to-face classes, among others amid the policy shift.

Metro Manila will be under general community quarantine (GCQ) from September 8 to 30 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang announced on Monday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said granular lockdowns will be pilot tested in Metro Manila during the GCQ period although no guidelines have been issued yet. Roque said details regarding granular lockdowns will be issued on Tuesday.

The National Capital Region was previously placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) — the strictest quarantine classification — from August 6 to 20 amid the surge of the more infectious Delta coronavirus variant.

The quarantine classification has been downgraded to modified ECQ (MECQ) which will be in effect until September 7. MECQ partially allows non-essential services to operate.

With the policy shift in COVID-19 restrictions, the government has set a pilot test of granular lockdowns in Metro Manila starting Wednesday to see if this can be an effective replacement for community-wide quarantines.

The guidelines for the granular lockdowns will be discussed by Metro Manila mayors and the technical working group of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases later in the day, Teodoro said.

“Hindi pa nakalatag. Ito nga 'yung nagiging problema natin, palaging nahuhuli tayo sa ganitong bagay,” the mayor said.

“Kailangan malatag, malinaw ito for compliance purposes ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.