MECQ in NCR Plus extended until May 14, Duterte apologized

President Rodrigo Duterte extended the implementation of modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus.

In his address to the nation on Wednesday night the president retained the MECQ status in NCR Plus that covers Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, until May 14.

The president explained that the two-week MECQ extension in NCR Plus is based on the recommendation of experts due to the still increasing number of COVID-19 cases.

Duterte also apologized to the public for extending (MECQ).

“Mga kababayan ko, maghingi lang ako sa inyo ng paumanhin. I’m sorry that I have to impose a longer itong modified enhanced community,” 

Duterte said.

President Duterte immediately defended his move to extend the MECQ in the aforementioned areas.

"There will always be a rise and maybe the trend of COVID is exponential if you do not follow the law," said Duterte. "This is not only a medical issue it is now of national interest and maybe the survival of the Filipinos."

MECQ is also extended in Quirino and Abra provinces, and the City of Santiago in Isabela, from May 1 to 31.

The following areas will remain in general community quarantine: Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Batangas, Quezon, Tacloban, Iligan, Davao City, Lanao del Sur.

The rest of the country will stay under the least restrictive modified GCQ, the MGCQ.