Monday, March 29, 2021
ECQ for NCR, 4 other provinces very timely: Lorenzana
For Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the government's decision to place the National Capital Region (NCR) and the four other provinces under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) happened at just the right time.
Lorenzana, who is also chair of the National Task Force Against Covid-19, said the timing was just right as the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) was monitoring very closely the spike of new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.
"Ang timing natin ay tama lang (Our timing was just right), we have to observe for a couple of days 'yung spike ng new cases, so we were watching closely, the IATF was watching closely sa pagtaas (rise). When it breached 8,000, that's the time that we acted," he said in an interview with CNN Philippines Monday.
ECQ for Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal started March 29 and will end on April 4.
"So today, we are on ECQ and hopefully (with) this, we will stem the tide of the rising cases and let's see, we'll watch what happens next," Lorenzana said.
The defense chief also said there was a debate among the IATF on whether it was necessary to place Metro Manila and the four other provinces under ECQ due to its impact on the economy.
"The economic team doesn't want to impose ECQ because of economic health of the country (is in) jeopardy, but eventually they relented dahil nga pataas ng pataas na yung cases na bago (due to growing number of Covid-19 cases)," Lorenzana said.
He added that the one-week ECQ will help the government observe the trend on Covid-19 cases and allow it to act accordingly, including extending the ECQ if needed.
Comelec suspends voter registration March 29-31 in NCR Plus
The Commission on Elections will suspend voter registration services in the NCR Plus between Monday and Wednesday, March 29 and 31, spokesperson James Jimenez said on Sunday, while the enhanced community quarantine is in effect.
The Comelec last week shortened registration hours due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.
At the time, the commission encouraged the public to accomplish required forms online, and to set an appointment at the irehistro.comelec.gov.ph prior to visiting Comelec offices.
Voter registration for the 2022 polls will end on September 30, 2021.
The final guidelines for next year's presidential elections will be released in the last quarter of this year, the commission said.
Protocols that the body is considering include limiting polling precincts to 5 voters at a time and reducing candidates' poll watchers, said Comelec commissioner Sheriff Abas.
The commission last month temporarily closed its offices in Intramuros, Manila, from March 11 to 24 to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Philippines on Sunday confirmed 9,475 new cases of COVID-19, taking the country’s total to 721,892.
It was the third straight day that the country logged more than 9,000 new cases.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/29/21/comelec-suspends-voter-registration-march-29-31-in-ncr-plus