Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque assured that President Rodrigo Duterte will announce the new quarantine classifications before Saturday, May 15.
Roque said that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) has yet to submit its recommendation for the new community quarantine status across the Philippines.
The Malacanang official stressed that the IATF will make the final decision on the community quarantine status across the country.
"Sigurado ia-announce niya iyong bagong quarantine classifications bago mag May 15; dahil nga May 14 iyong last day ‘no," Roque said on Monday, May 10, during a virtual press briefing.
"Pero tingin ko, hindi pa pupuwede kasi wala pa iyong rekomendasyon ng IATF sa kanya, hindi pa nagpupulong ang IATF para sa final recommendation on quarantine classifications," he added.
While the country waits for the IATF to make a decision, Roque welcomes the likelihood that the task force will ease the community quarantine status of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.
The Philippine capitol and the four provinces, called the NCR (National Capital Region) Plus, has been placed under modified enhanced community quarantine since April 12.
"Well, sabihin na lang natin na hindi ko pupuwedeng pangunahan ang IATF. But if we are to follow the formula eh mayroon naman pong posibilidad," Roque said.
