Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua believes that the alert level system should be implemented in other regions.
The alert level system was replaced with community quarantine status, but it was first implemented as a pilot in Metro Manila in the past two weeks.
According to Chua, more people returned to work in Manila this past week due to granular lockdowns.
Although the government relaxed, he said the number of people falling ill did not increase.
“Kahit na naka-less restriction po tayo at gumagamit tayo ng granular lockdown ay iyong kaso ng COVID ay bumababa at bumabalik iyong ating trabaho, ayon sa ulat ng ating Philippine Statistics Authority,” said Chua.
“Ang kailangan po natin gawin ngayon ay i-expand ito (alert level system), expand the pilot at matuto po tayo sa ating experiences sa iba’t ibang lugar ng Pilipinas,” he added.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque is convinced that the government’s strategy to focus on granular lockdowns under the alert level system has been effective.
Economic managers hope to downgrade NCR to Alert Level 3, which is currently at Alert Level 4, next month.
Alert level system should now be implemented in other regions: NEDA
“With this improvement, we hope there would be some loosening up of quarantine classification,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.
The Department of Trade and Industry had earlier requested that gyms be allowed to reopen under Alert Level 4, even though the exercise was essential to boost the body’s immunity.
The Department of Tourism wants to increase the indoor dining capacity of its accredited hotels and restaurants to 10 percent, even though more tourism workers have been vaccinated.
In fact, in Metro Manila, up to 97 percent of tourism workers are vaccinated.
The Employers Confederation of the Philippines has responded to appeals to increase the capacity of businesses as it will allow more workers to return to work.
But the Private Hospital Association of the Philippines (PHAPI) appealed to slow down first because it may be too early to ease restrictions.
For the group, the NCR should first remain at Alert Level 4 while studying the new system’s impact to slow the COVID-19 case.
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