President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet has recommended easing curfew hours to just four hours, from 12 midnight to 4 a.m., Malacañang said on Wednesday.
Palace spokesman Harry Roque said the shorter curfew hours would help the country further revive its economy.
“Ngayon po karamihan naman po ng curfew ay 10 to 5, bagama’t iyong iba po kasi nagkaroon naman ng maagang curfew. So, ang desisyon po ng Gabinete, irekomenda na nga sa lahat ng mga local government units na paikliin na iyong curfew,” Roque said in an interview over PTV.
The implementation of shorter curfew hours would be up to local government units.
On Tuesday, San Juan City shortened its curfew hours to 12 midnight to 5 a.m.
Davao City on Monday imposed a longer curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Oct. 15 until Dec. 31.
Meanwhile, Roque said the gradual expansion of the age group allowed to go outside their homes had yet to be discussed by the Covid-19 inter-agency task force (IATF).
“Pagdating dito sa age group, the recommendation really was to expand the age group that could be allowed to leave their homes,” he said in an interview over CNN Philippines’ The Source.
The Cabinet did not specify the age group to be allowed but the recommendation it approved listed those aged 15 to 65 as an example.
“I took that to mean that IATF will have to meet and agree once and for all kung ano iyong bagong ages. I’m confident that the age of 65 will remain, I do not know what age will be allowable for the younger population,” Roque explained. John Ezekiel J. Hirro