The Department of the Interior and Local Government urged Metro Manila mayors on Thursday to adopt uniform curfew hours across the capital region to make it easier for the public to comply.
The call came as authorities seek a balance between keeping the economy open and containing another spike in COVID-19 infections due in part to new virus variants. Metro Manila remains under general community quarantine.
“Mahirap po sa ating mga kababayan kung paiba-iba ang curfew hours dahil malilito po sila sa pagsunod nito. It would also be easier for the [police] to implement the curfew if the hours are uniform across Metro Manila,” DILG spokesperson Usec. Jonathan Malaya said in a statement.
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DILG records show that Metro Manila cities implement varying curfew hours. Muntinlupa City and Caloocan City for instance have a 10 p.m.-4 a.m. curfew while the cities of Valenzuela, Pasay, Parañaque, Taguig, Las Piñas, Makati, and Mandaluyong have a 12 m.n.-4 a.m. curfew. Other localities in the capital region also have varying curfew hours.
Malaya said the DILG would leave it to Metro Manila mayors to decide on the uniform curfew hours.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier this week said he reminded Metro Manila mayors to strictly implement COVID-19 protocols in light of the increasing number of new virus cases.
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