Malacañang Palace extends NCR Plus ECQ for one more week

Malacañang Palace has extended the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) period for one more week as it seeks to decrease the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country. The announcement for the extension was made by Presidential spokesman Harry Roque last April 3, 2021, under the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF). Similar to the previous ECQ, the quarantine level will still cover the “NCR Plus” area which covers Metro Manila and neighboring provinces such as Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, and Rizal. 

The ECQ period is expected to end on April 11, 2021, however, the situation is still under observation to see if another extension will be needed. With the extension already applied, the government is also stepping up its enforcement of the “Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Treat, and Reintegrate (PDTIR)” strategy to further help lower the growing amount of cases. Part of this strategy is the process of “going door to door to find those who have symptoms and subjecting them to PCR testing and isolation”

In the meantime, other precautionary measures such as the quarantine control points along the border of the “NCR Plus” Bubble will still remain active. This along with other checkpoints along major thoroughfares entering the zone will ensure that only the proper personnel can enter and exit the area. It is highly advised that you have the proper documentation ready in the event that you need to pass through one of these control points or checkpoints.

Public transportation has also resumed, however, is still at a limited capacity due to safety and health concerns. While the LRT, MRT, and PNR, were all under maintenance during the Holy Week holidays, they have now resumed their normal ECQ working hours. However, expect long lines as other forms of transportation have yet to officially come back online.