Some senators believe that it is high time for the entire country to be placed under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) to finally address the problems in unemployment and economic recession due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

"MGCQ sa buong bansa, napapanahon na (MGCQ in the entire country, it' about time)," Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. said in his statement on Friday, February 19.

"Sa susuond na buwan ay mag-iisang taon na ang pagpapatupad ng Community Quarantine sa buong bansa. Nag-iba-iba man ang uri nito, iisa ang naging bunga nito, ang kawalan ng trabaho para sa karamihan at ang kaakibat nitong pagbagal ng ekonomiya (Next month, we will be under community quarantine for a year. While its classifications differ, it has only one effect, job displacement for many and the economic slowdown that comes with it)," he said.

The MGCQ is the least restrictive of the four quarantine classifications imposed by the government to curb the transmission of the novel coronavirus.

"Hindi ibig sabihin na sa pagsailalim ng buing bansa sa mas maluwag na MGCQ ay tapos na ang pandemya. Ginagawa lamang ito bilang pagkilala sa katotohanan na kailangan nang unti-unti tayong bumalik sa normal. Sadyang kailangan nang magtrabaho ng ating mga kababayan, at kailangan nang gumulong muli ng ekonomiya (Just because the entire country will be under the less stringent MGCQ does not mean that the pandemic is over. This is only being done to recognize that we have to return to normalcy. That our countrymen have to go back to work, and the economy has to recover)," Revilla said.

Senator Grace Poe, for her part, said the shift to MGCQ should be complemented by allowing more public vehicles on the road and increasing passenger capacity to accommodate the expected influx of commuters.

"With strict adherence to health protocols, the readiness of the transportation system is important to shield the people from the hardships of commuting when they go out of their homes," she said.

Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara also shared this view, saying that public transportation "is a must" for the economic recovery.

For Angara, the transition to MGCQ has been overdue.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has agreed to place the whole country under MGCQ starting March 1, as recommended by the National Economic and Development Authority, and as voted upon by mayors in Metro Manila.

President Duterte has yet to give his approval on the proposed transition. His spokesman, Harry Roque, said he might announce the decision before the end of February.

Currently, the areas that are remaining under GCQ are Metro Manila, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Batangas, Tacloban City, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Iligan City.