(Photo screengrab from RTVM Facebook page)
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos reported during President Duterte’s televised meeting with his Cabinet Thursday night, April 15 that only 24 areas in the metropolis are under “granular lockdown”.
“Ang granular lockdowns po sa ngayon ay kulang-kulang 24 barangays o mga kalye I village po sa Metro Manila (We currently have more or less 24 barangays or streets or villages under granular lockdown in Metro Manila),” said Abalos, who joined the meeting via Zoom.
The Manila Bulletin received confirmation from the MMDA Friday afternoon, April 16 that the figure is the fewest ever reported to the President since the surge of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) began in early March.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos has called out the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for trying to "turn the tables" on the Metro mayors and essentially blame them for the litany of complaints regarding the National Capital Region (NCR) one-t
MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos (MMDA OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE/ MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Abalos confirmed this during a chance interview Wednesday morning, April 14 at the MMDA Parking Area in Guadalupe, Makati City where the initial vaccination of some 200 agency frontliners was held.
“OK naman ako, kumpleto naman ako. Naka-two doses na (I’m OK, I’ve completed it. I’ve received two doses),” Abalos told reporters.
This means that the MMDA chief now has “full protection” against the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as far as modern medicine is concerned.
Despite this, Abalos, who survived a bout with COVID-19 in July 2020, was still very mindful of minimum public health standards (MPHS) during Wednesday’s event. He wore a face mask, face shield, and even told journalists to observe physical distancing.
Metro Manila mayors have decided to implement new unified curfew hours for the National Capital Region (NCR) during the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) period, which will begin Monday, April 12.
Emi Calixto-Rubiano (FACEBOOK / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Rubiano said the prevent-detect-isolate-treat-reintegrate (PDITR) system they are doing has been very effective in stopping the spread of the virus in the city.
“Naging epektibo po ang aming ipinatutupad na PDITR, kaya naman po kung dati ay umaabot ng 190 plus an average daily cases naming ngayon po ay double digit na lamang ang kaso naming kada araw, “ (The PDITR we are implementing is very effective, before we are reaching 190 plus cases daily but now it is only a double digit), Rubiano said.
The mayor also pointed out that the rules being implemented in the city are based on the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force.