NCR mayors implements shorten curfew hours from 12 midnight to 4 a.m, starting October 13

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Tuesday, October 12, that mayors in the capital region have agreed to impose a unified curfew from 12 midnight to 4 a.m starting on Wednesday, October 13, shortening the current curfew hours of 10 p.m to 4 a.m.

According to Metro Manila Council (MMC) chairman and Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, the change is due to a decrease in COVID-19 cases and the rate of healthcare utilization. The action also aims to help businesses and workers as the economy slowly recovers from the COVID-19 outbreak.

However, when asked if the warning level in Metro Manila could be reduced, Olivarez stated the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) would convene to consider the issue.

“IATF will have a meeting on Thursday to assess alert level after Oct 15 [based] on [data],” Olivarez mentioned.

Moreover, Interior Spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya explained that modifying curfew hours will only occur if Metro Manila downgrades to Alert Level 3.

Alert Level 4 is considered the second-highest alert level wherein there has a high and/or increasing COVID-19 transmission and a high usage rate of intensive care units (ICU).

However, Alert Level 3 is only raised if a certain area is experiencing a high transmission of COVID-19 transmission, including a high and/or increasing utilization of rates of ICU. Metro Manila is still placed under Alert Level 4, but only until October 15.

All mayors in the NCR have decided to issue executive orders or change ordinances to ensure that the new curfew hours are properly implemented.

Despite the relaxation of the current curfew, the MMDA reminded the public that basic health protocols should still be followed. Local government units (LGU) will continue to enforce COVID-19 protocols and minimum public health guidelines throughout the new curfew hours.

To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 infection, the MMC has also encouraged LGUs to close cemeteries and otherly widely visited establishments from October 29 to November 2.