President Rodrigo Duterte has approved looser quarantine restrictions in several parts of the country until the end of August, as COVID-19 infections continued to rise.

Metro Manila and neighboring provinces Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, meanwhile, will remain under the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine until August 18, with an announcement expected Monday.

The following areas will remain under general community quarantine until Aug. 31:

LUZON
– Nueva Ecija
– Batangas
– Quezon

VISAYAS
-Iloilo City
-Cebu City
-Lapu-Lapu City
-Mandaue City
-Talisay City
-Minglanilla, Cebu
– Consolacion, Cebu

The rest of the Philippines will stay under modified general community quarantine, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said./Stacy Ang