Metro Manila, Laguna, and Bataan shift to MECQ until August 31

Infectious Diseases (IATF) have recently announced that Metro Manila and Laguna will be placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) from August 21 to 31, 2021. This comes after a two-week Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) lockdown period in light of the spread of the new variants of COVID-19. Bataan will also join the two areas under MECQ, however, its quarantine period will begin on August 23 and will end on August 31, 2021, as well.

Under MECQ all indoor and al-fresco dine-in services, as well as personal care services including beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops, and nail spas will not be allowed during the quarantine period. Aside from this, religious gatherings will also not be allowed in the meantime. 

For public transportation, there is still no announcement yet coming from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) with regards to any new guidelines to be implemented. However, given that public transportation was still allowed to operate under ECQ we don’t expect too much of a difference now that the quarantine restrictions have shifted to MECQ. Based on the IATF’s omnibus guidelines, this still means that the movement of the public will still be restricted. As such authorized persons outside of residence (APORs) will still be the only individuals allowed to travel and leave their homes during this period. 

Similar to ECQ expect to still encounter traffic in areas where there are checkpoints that border the NCR region. Like its previous implementation, these checkpoints will be managed by the members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) alongside other select representatives from other agencies and healthcare officials.

That said, we are still waiting for further announcements from other agencies with regards to the shift into MECQ. We will update you more once more information comes in.