15 March 2025 marks five years since the COVID-19 lockdown was imposed in Metro Manila. The sweeping restrictions that followed reshaped the daily lives of millions, altering everything from mobility to economic activity. DAILY TRIBUNE revisits the timeline of key developments that led to the lockdown, its enforcement, and the eventual easing of restrictions.
30 January 2020 – The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the country’s first case of COVID-19 — a 38-year-old Chinese woman who had traveled from Wuhan, China, via Hong Kong. She was admitted to a government hospital after experiencing mild symptoms. The DOH assured the public of intensified containment measures, working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
2 February 2020 – The Philippines recorded the first COVID-19-related death outside China. A 44-year-old male companion of the first confirmed case succumbed to severe pneumonia, prompting the government to impose travel restrictions on China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
9 March 2020 – President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of public health emergency following the country’s first confirmed case of local transmission. This declaration enabled the government to enforce stronger measures, including quarantine protocols and the suspension of classes.
13 March 2020 – Duterte announced a lockdown of Metro Manila for 30 days starting 15 March to curb the rising COVID-19 cases. The lockdown restricted travel in and out of the National Capital Region, except for essential workers. Public gatherings were banned, and schools remained closed.
16 March 2020 – The lockdown was expanded to the entire Luzon region under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). Strict home confinement was enforced, public transportation was suspended, and businesses were limited to essential operations. The government assured the public that local government units (LGUs) would distribute food and basic necessities, although logistical challenges soon arose.
24 March 2020 – The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act was passed, granting Duterte emergency powers to respond to the pandemic. The law authorized him to reallocate government funds, direct private hospitals to assist in the crisis, regulate the price of essential goods, and provide financial aid to affected families.
1 May 2020 – Easing of restrictions began under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) in some areas. Select businesses were allowed to reopen, and limited public transportation resumed.
28 May 2020 – Metro Manila’s ECQ was downgraded to GCQ following approval from the IATF, allowing more businesses to operate under strict health protocols.
5 October 2020 – Schools reopened under blended learning, marking the first time in Philippine history that 22.44 million public school students attended school remotely.
1 March 2021 – The first official vaccine dose was administered, marking the beginning of the national vaccination rollout.
21 March 2021 – Rising cases led to the implementation of NCR+ (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal) under GCQ, later reverting to ECQ by the end of March.
8 July 2021 – The country surpassed 50,000 COVID-19 cases, with the emergence of the Delta variant prompting stricter measures.
1 September 2021 – The country breached 2 million total COVID-19 cases as vaccination efforts continued nationwide.
15 December 2021 – The first two Omicron variant cases were detected, raising new concerns.
7 February 2022 – The country officially started vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 against COVID-19.
18 June 2022 – The National Task Force reported that 70,005,247 people had been fully vaccinated, representing 77.78% of the target population.
8 July 2022 – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. tested positive for COVID-19 via an antigen test.
August 2022 – Public schools reopened for in-person learning for the first time in two years, a significant milestone in the country’s recovery.
22 July 2023 – President Bongbong Marcos lifted the COVID-19 public health emergency, officially signaling the end of pandemic-related restrictions in the country.
The COVID-19 pandemic left an indelible mark on the Philippines. While the nation faced unprecedented challenges, it also demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and the power of collective effort.
The rapid shift to digitalization, the improvements in healthcare infrastructure, and the strengthened policies on disaster response continue to shape the country’s future.
As we look back, we acknowledge the sacrifices made by healthcare workers, frontliners, and every Filipino who endured the hardships of lockdowns, economic downturns, and personal losses. The pandemic was a defining moment in Philippine history — one that will continue to be studied, remembered, and used as a foundation for better crisis management in the years to come.