As NCR remains under MECQ

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Wednesday appealed for unity and full public understanding following the government decision to defer the enforcement of the granular lockdown in Metro Manila.

At the same time, the top cop said they continue to strictly implement all health and safety protocols in the metropolis and other parts of the country amid the continuing rise of COVID-19 cases.

Gen. Eleazar however said that in doing so, the cooperation and understanding of the public are the biggest factors in the goal of containing the spread of the virus.

“Iba-iba man ang pangalan at iba-iba man ang mga alituntunin sa bawat klasipikasyon ng quarantine sa ating bansa, nanatiling tatlo ang mabising formula upang labanan ang ang pagkalat ng nakakahawang coronavirus na ito ang ibayong pag-iingat para sa ating mga sarili, ang pagmamahal sa ating pamilya at ang malasakit sa ating kapwa,” he said.

“Ibayong pag-iingat ang ating gagawin lalo na kung tayo ang inaasahan ng ating pamilya at siguradong hindi din maatim ng ating konsensya na tayo pa ang maging instrumento ng pagkakahawa ng ating mga kaiibigan, kapitbahay at ka-trabaho na inaasahan din ng kani-kanilang pamilya,” he added.

The National Capital Region shall remain under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until September 15, 2021. The pilot testing of the granular lockdown in Metro Manla was also deferred.

Gen Eleazar sought the public’s cooperation in observing the minimum health standards as well as the quarantine protocols. He also urged the public to get vaccinated whenever possible.

“Sa gitna ng patuloy na pagdami ng kaso ng COVID sa ating bansa, ang ating pagkakaisa at malawak na pang-unawa ang kailangan upang maitawid natin ang seryosong hamon ng pandemya na kinakaharap natin ngayon. Mananatiling kaagapay ninyo ang inyong PNP sa pagharap sa hamong ito,” he said.

More or less 9,000 policemen are currently supervising and manning 942 Quarantine Control Points (QCPs) in the country. In Metro Manila, almost 1,000 policemen are currently deployed in 34 QCPs.

Meanwhile, a total of 158,271 people were accosted for violating the minimum public health safety (MPHS) in Metro Manila alone from August 21 to September 7. They include violators of the rule on the mandatory wearing of face masks and face shields and physical distancing.

A total of 61,890 were accosted for violating the curfew while 13,735 were accosted for violation of the ban on non-essential travels.

In the adjacent provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna, a total of 609,344 people were accosted for violation of the MPHS while 147,862 were accosted for curfew violation. A total of 36,513 were also accosted for defiance on the prohibition for non-essential travels.