Baguio City mayor asks IATF to downgrade city to MGCQ

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to reconsider classifying the city under general community quarantine (GCQ) until June 15, requesting a reclassification to a modified GCQ status.

The city was not included among the local government units President Rodrigo Duterte still considers under general community quarantine as of Thursday night.

Magalong cited Baguio's success in managing COVID-19 cases, with only two active cases currently recorded and both in stable condition, and a doubling time of 24.44 days.

He noted that the city is now fully equipped for mass testing with advanced laboratory equipment and has prepared isolation facilities.

Magalong expressed concern that people might relax and forget minimum health protocols such as regular hand washing, safe physical distancing, and wearing face masks as the city prepares to shift to MGCQ by June 1.

Businesses in the city will be slowly opened leading to the new normal.