Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Saturday night a recommendation of Metro Manila mayors to impose a curfew in Metro Manila ”is subject to the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte”.

”The president has yet to consider it (curfew),” said Panelo in a statement.

Panelo said the local government units ”can impose curfew within their territories if an ordinance is passed imposing it.”

Earlier, Metro Manila mayors approved an 8 pm to 5 am curfew for Metro Manila as part of the measures on the community quarantine which takes effect on Sunday.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said an 8 pm to 5 am Metro Manila curfew will be approved only after an ordinance is approved by the city councils of these local government units (LGUs).

“The resolution will be submitted in the city councils and if by Monday a city ordinances will be passed, we can implement the curfew probably starting that day,” Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano said in a radio interview.

Under the resolution approved by the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the 17 Metro Manila mayors were urged to issue city ordinances on a region-wide curfew from 8 pm to 5 am for one month.Imposing curfew is part of the measures announced by authorities as President Rodrigo Duterte announced a community quarantine due to the rising number of coronavirus disease (COV-19) case.

According to Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jojo Garcia, curfew aims to slow down the movement of the people in order to control COVID-19 cases.

The Department of Health reported eight deaths and 98 COVID-cases as of Saturday. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS