A proposal from Metro Manila mayors to place the region under the highest quarantine or ECQ was presented to President Rodrigo Duterte earlier this week -- with the audio accidentally on mute -- said MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos, who presided over the slide show.
It was a long presentation that turned out to be on mute, Abalos told reporters. Quarantine classifications for August kept Metro Manila under General Community Quarantine with heightened restrictions instead of Enhanced Community Quarantine or ECQ, until Aug. 15.
The mayors sought an audience with the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 Thursday night to push for tighter restrictions. The results of that meeting had not been released officially.
"Nagpunta ako sa 'Talk to the People' ng Presidente, hinarap ko. Ang problema ko mali, wala pala akong volume. Sabi nila sa akin, 'walang lumabas.' Ang haba ko nag-present, wala palang volume na lumabas sa bibig ko," he told the media on Thursday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Wednesday's IATF meeting did not tackle the mayors' ECQ proposal, which included request for ayuda or cash assistance for indigent residents and allocation of four million vaccine doses specifically for the region.
"Eh noong nagsasalita noong una si Chairman Abalos, wala po siyang sounds. So hindi po namin narinig na ang sinabi ni Chairman Abalos ay something to the effect na handa silang mag-ECQ ‘no; hindi po namin narinig iyon," he said during his Thursday press briefing.
Roque also said he was not sure if the government has enough budget for cash assistance for the poor in Metro Manila.
If the IATF rejects the metro mayors' proposal, "baka puwede 'yung heightened restrictions, mas i-restrict pa natin," Abalos said.