NCR, Laguna, Cebu City under MECQ until May 31

The National Capital Region (NCR), Laguna, and Cebu City will be under a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from May 16 to May 31 as they are still considered high-risk areas for COVID-19.

President Duterte's meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) resulted in the classification of quarantine areas based on health and economic factors.

Under MECQ, some industries will be allowed to operate with up to 50 percent of their workforce, while government offices will resume partial operations.

Areas classified as moderate-risk will be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ), allowing for up to 75 percent workforce in government offices and industries.

Low-risk areas will have community quarantine lifted entirely, with flexible learning arrangements for students.

The government aims to balance biosafety with economic recovery, noting the significant impact of the lockdown on the economy.

Critical zones, with over 20 cases per 100,000 population, will remain under ECQ, while containment zones with fewer cases will be under MECQ.

Buffer zones, areas without cases but contiguous to those with cases, will be under GCQ, and areas outside buffer zones with no confirmed cases will be under modified GCQ.