The proposal to replace the city- or province-wide community quarantine levels with granular two-week lockdowns is now up for approval by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolutions, Interior spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said.
“There is consensus among the different government agencies that instead of a wide ECQ, the government will just impose granular lockdowns,” he said.
Malaya said the national government gave assurance it would augment support to local government units in giving food assistance to affected residents.
Under the proposed two-week granular lockdown, he said LGUs would provide assistance for the first week while the national government and Department of Social Welfare and Development would shoulder it on the second week.
Last week, the Interior department recommended that even authorized persons outside residence (APORs) should not be allowed to go out during granular lockdowns to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benjamin Abalaos Jr. said granular lockdowns might be better for Metro Manila.
“A hard lockdown should always be the last option. Personally, that’s my point of view,” he said.
Abalos said 3,040 households in Metro Manila are currently under granular lockdowns.
Elsewhere, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said six local government units in Metro Manila have completed the deadline for the payout of cash assistance to low-income beneficiaries affected by the recent enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Año said these included Quezon City, Manila, Caloocan City, Pasig City, Malabon City, and Navotas City.
As of Wednesday morning, 95 percent of the P11.2 billion fund for the emergency cash assistance or about P10.63 billion have been distributed to some 10.6 million eligible beneficiaries.