Duterte approves ECQ extension in Albay, Zamboanga until May 15

President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Diseases (IATF-EID) to extend the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Albay province and Zamboanga City until May 15.

This decision means these two areas will remain under ECQ instead of transitioning to general community quarantine (GCQ).

The other areas under ECQ until May 15 are the National Capital Region, Central Luzon (except Aurora), Calabarzon provinces, Benguet, Pangasinan, Iloilo, Cebu, Bacolod City, and Davao City.

Under the guidelines, only the IATF should make decisions whether to impose, lift, or extend community quarantine in provinces, highly urbanized cities (HUCs) and independent component cities (ICCs).

The decision was based on COVID-19 trends, local health system capacity, and economic, social, and security considerations.

The government had also granted the appeal of Bacolod City to remain under ECQ to curb the spread of COVID-19.