The proposal to place the entire country under the least stringent modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic was questioned by Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday.

“Ano yung basis ng MGCQ? Wala naman problema kung mag-MGCQ kung may basehan tayo dun (What is the basis for shifting to MGCQ? I see no problem in that for as long as there is a basis),” Robredo said in her weekly radio show “BISErbisyong Leni” over radio station DZXL.

Acting National Financial and Improvement Specialist (Neda) Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua has recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte to put the whole nation under MGCQ by March to spur more business activity.

Nine out of 17 Metro Manila mayors have expressed support to the proposal together with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

However, the OCTA Research group has prescribed caution, as it noted “a slight upward trend” of Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila, known as one of the country’s coronavirus hotspots.

Malacanang spokesperson Harry Roque said that Duterte may consider placing the entire country under MGCQ at the start of next month, and will make an official announcement for that on Monday or the succeeding days.

BY ARIZ RODIL