Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade said Tuesday that domestic commercial operations in areas covered by the general community quarantine (GCQ) are now allowed to resume.

“Kagabi ho, ‘yung IATF, ‘yung ating Chief Implementer na si Secretary Galvez, ay nag-isyu na ho ng kasulatan at kautusan na kung saan, ang sinasabi po niya na allowed na ‘yung domestic commercial aviation between GCQ to GCQ (The IATF and Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. has issued a notice saying that domestic commercial aviation between GCQ and GCQ areas are now allowed),” Tugade said in a radio interview.

He, however, said a condition must be met — the provincial and/or local government units must categorically support the resumption of domestic commercial operations.

“Kailangan lang dito, aprubado ng local government (It should be approved by the local government),” Tugade said.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General, Capt. Jim Sydiongco, said airlines may verify and confirm with concerned airport authorities whether airports are allowed to resume operations.

“We advise airlines and air operators to communicate with the airport authorities having jurisdiction over the airport concerned to ensure proper coordination with the intended destination,” Sydiongco said.

To recall, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the lowering of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) enforced over Metro Manila and other major parts of the country into a general community quarantine (GCQ) starting June 1.

Aside from Metro Manila, other areas under GCQ are Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Pangasinan, Albay, and Davao City.

The rest of the country, meanwhile, is under a modified GCQ – the lowest form of community quarantine enforced by the government.

Regular commercial air travel had been previously suspended in areas covered by the ECQ and MECQ to help stop the spread of Covid-19.

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