Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday said around 80 percent of the country may be placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) starting July 16 in order to spur more economic activity.

Lorenza, during an interview on Unang Hirit, said the easing of quarantine measures would depend on the data on the COVID-19 cases in the country to be provided by the Department of Health (DOH).

“Sabi nga ng DOH, depende pa sa mga analytics na lalabas pero more likely siguro mga 80 percent, mag-MGCQ na tayo sa July 16,” said Lorenzana, a member of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Lorenzana, however, did not specify what areas would most likely be placed under MGCQ.

Both Metro Manila and the Calabarzon region — where many of the country’s economic hubs are located — are under general community quarantine (GCQ) until July 15.

“Dahil nga lumuluwag na ‘yung ating quarantine atsaka gusto na nating buksan ‘yung ating ekonomiya, maraming pagbabago, mas marami ng tao ang makakalabas, pati mga simbahan magbubukas na rin, magdadagdag na rin ng transportasyon ‘yung DOTr so malaking pagbabago,” Lorenzana said on what could be expected under MGCQ.

Lorenzana earlier said the second phase of the national action plan in the fight against COVID-19 has been crafted. He said it was presented to the IATF on Thursday.

The Defense Chief reiterated that the first phase of the national action plan had been successful, pointing out if the lockdown was not immediately implemented in March, the number of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila could have reached over 75,000 in three months, with 6,000 to 10,000 deaths.

“Nagawa naman natin ‘yung ating objective habang pinipigilan natin ‘yung pagtaas ng infections ay inaayos naman natin ‘yung ating capabilities,” Lorenzana said.

“So ngayon, medyo nag-plateau na except ‘yung Cebu [City]… Ang ating objective diyan mag-plateau lang, hindi na magdadagdag every day or ‘yung case doubling,” he added.

Last Thursday, the Philippines has 38,805 positive COVID-19 cases, with 10,673 recoveries and 1,274 deaths./Stacy Ang