It is possible to further extend the pilot implementation of the new alert level system with granular lockdowns in Metro Manila until October.
According to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Epimaco Densing III, in their view, the pilotage of the alert level system in the National Capital Region (NCR) can be further extended.
“Sa October i-extend pa natin sa NCR,” said Densing.
According to him, officials are also discussing the possibility of reviewing some guidelines regarding implementing the alert level system.
It is noted that under the current system, granular lockdowns are only enforced in small areas with high COVID-19 infections, such as a home, alley, road, sitio, subdivision, or barangay.
This is in contrast to former community quarantines that lockdown an entire province or region.
“Magkakaroon kami ng pagpupulong sa iba’t ibang ahensya dito sa sub-technical working group on data analytics. Ire-review po namin itong mga panuntunan natin doon sa pilot dito sa NCR, at sa pananaw po namin magkakaroon ng pagrerebisa,” said Densing.
He said they are also studying the conduct of pilot testing of the alert level system in areas outside Metro Manila.
Alert level system in Metro Manila possibly until October – DILG
“Nung Lunes po, nagsalita po ako sa ating asembliya ng provincial o local league of provincial governors at nabanggit ko nga itong maging ready na sila, maintindihan na nila itong alert level systems. Open po sila.
Kaso nga lang ang aming initial na pa-nanaw dito, baka hindi pa lahat ay ready,” ani Densing. “Baka magkaroon tayo ng piloting naman sa iba’t ibang probinsya at highly-urbanized city sa labas ng NCR para gawin itong alert level system.”
Densing also hopes that the new system will stabilize or further reduce the recorded COVID-19 cases in the region.
The Department of Health recorded 18,659 new coronavirus disease infections Friday.
No new deaths were reported in COVID-19 by the DOH today after the department experienced some technical issues: “No deaths were reported today due to technical issues in COVIDKaya. The Department of Information and Communications Technology is currently addressing issues encountered by the system,” the DOH said.
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