Palace clarifies GCQ bubble is not hard lockdown

Malacañang clarified that the newly implemented general community quarantine (GCQ) bubble, covering Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal from March 22 to April 4, is not a hard lockdown but a restriction on people's movement while the economy remains open.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque emphasized that unlike previous stricter quarantine classifications, businesses will not be closed during this period.

He stated that the classification for Metro Manila remains GCQ, with the other provinces being moved from modified GCQ (MGCQ) to GCQ with additional restrictions.

Roque further clarified that the current measures are focused on curbing activities known to spread the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and debunked rumors of a "circuit breaker" lockdown.

The Palace aims to balance economic activity with the necessary measures to prevent the further spread of the virus.

This comes after former Vice President Jejomar Binay claimed that the government refuses to call the GCQ bubble a lockdown because it would be an "admission of their failure, neglect, and incompetence."

Acting National Economic Development Authority Secretary Karl Chua added that placing Metro Manila under another lockdown would lead to more residents going hungry, losing their jobs, and foregoing treatment for other non-Covid-19 diseases.