The national government announced today, September 6, 2021, that it will start implementing localized or granular lockdowns in Metro Manila while under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) from September 8 until September 30.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stated during his press briefing that the public should expect a different type of movement restriction, which is also termed as localized or granular lockdown, to be implemented by the national government.
“Magkakaroon po ng pilot dito sa Metro Manila at tinatawag natin na mga localized lockdowns… baka dumating ang punto na mawawala ang mga [quarantine] community classifications. Pero ipa-pilot muna po natin ito so hindi pa po ‘yan sigurado…,” says Roque.
He also said that the granular lockdowns the public has come to know will be stricter and that they should expect additional rules from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF). One of the notable rules mentioned was the movement of Authorized Persons Outside Residences (APORs) where they are allowed to leave the place on lockdown but will not be allowed to return until the lockdown is lifted.
“…kaya po tayo nagre-resort sa granular lockdown, ito po yung mga kasong kumpirmado in a certain geographical area. Now, ang alam ko po mas mahigpit ang lockdown na ito kasi ang mga APORs pupuwedeng lumabas pero hindi na pupuwedeng bumalik. Ibig sabihin wala na pong labas-pasok kapag meron ng granular lockdown… So talagang strikto po ang lockdown,” he stated.
It was adviced that the IATF will release detailed guidelines later today or tomorrow (September 7, 2021) for Pilot Areas that will be placed under granular lockdowns.
“It can be on a per house basis or it can be on per street basis,…district basis,…a barangay basis…what I do know of the granular lockdown is what we already have implemented of granular lockdowns…,” Roque added.
“Antayin na lang natin and detalye kasi kakaiba nga po itong lockdown na ito. Wala talagang dapat movement kapag naka-localized lockdown.”
Roque as well confirmed that if the pilot is successful, the government will remove the existing community classifications such as GCQ, MGCQ, ECQ and MECQ.
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