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Isko says modified quarantine 'happy development,' as cash aid scheme 'unsustainable'

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/12/20200507-covid19-lockdown-baseco-sap-jc-7284.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Residents queue during the distribution of cash assistance during Social Amelioration Program in BASECO, Manila on May 7, 2020. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno on Tuesday said placing Metro Manila under a modified enhanced community quarantine is a welcome development for their city as many of their residents are eager to return to work.“It’s a happy development. In our case, we are longing for this that some industries should be open for the simple reason na yung buhay, kabuhayan hindi natin pwedeng paghiwalayin,” Moreno said.(We are longing for this because some industries need to re-open. We cannot separate life and livelihood.)<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/12/20/modified-lockdown-set-in-metro-manila-2-other-areas">&#x27;Modified&#x27; lockdown set in Metro Manila, 2 other areas</a></li></ul>Metro Manila, Laguna province, and Cebu City will shift to a modified lockdown until the end of the month while the rest of the country will have fewer restrictions as the ECQ lapses on Friday, Malacañang said Tuesday.Moreno noted the government can no longer provide cash aid to poor families throughout the year and reopening some industries will help ease this burden.“This is unsustainable,” he said. “Ang gobyerno tatakbo pag siya ay may pondo at ang pondo ay manggagaling sa mga buwis ng mga taong nagtatrabaho at mga negosyong kumikita,” he said.He added that the modified ECQ will also lessen the anxiety of the city’s residents.“Mainit, sobrang init ng panahon maraming naiinip, naghihirap. It’s not healthy anymore we might make a new type of crisis later on if we are not going to give some opening. This is a development that we are looking for,” he said.<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wVbwnvsU0ec?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>The mayor said they have been aggressively preparing their post-ECQ plan, focused on detecting, isolating and treating coronavirus positive residents.“It’s quite scary because baka dumami naman ang magkaron ng kaso ng COVID-19,” he said.To date, Moreno said they have tested around 12,000 individuals using the rapid test kits.Those who will test positive will have to take the confirmatory PCR testing. They will be referred to treatment and quarantine facilities within the city if they still test positive, he said.The city built a 500-bed capacity quarantine facility as it ramped up efforts to arrest the spread of the virus.“We have to open businesses to provide jobs and opportunities to our people especially yung nawalan ng trabaho,” he said.Select industries that can operate up to a maximum of 50 percent capacity under a modified lockdown will be announced on Wednesday.“Naghahanda na kami,” said Moreno.

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno on Tuesday said placing Metro Manila under a modified enhanced community quarantine is a welcome development for their city as many of their residents are eager to return to work.

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno on Tuesday said placing Metro Manila under a modified enhanced community quarantine is a welcome development for their city as many of their residents are eager to return to work.