Due to the improved COVID-19 situation throughout the country, work from home arrangements will become optional in places that will be placed under Alert Level 1 next month, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Monday.
According to Lopez, who was interviewed on Unang Balita, onsite work is “encouraged” under Alert Level 1.
“Ie-encourage ‘yung onsite work [under Alert Level 1], ibig sabihin less na yung work from home, magiging optional na yung work from home,” he said.
(Onsite work is encouraged under Alert Level 1, which means there’d be less work from home arrangements. Work from home will become optional.)
According to Lopez, this is expected to benefit businesses such as stores and restaurants since more individuals will leave their houses.
“Ang maganda dito kapag pumapasok na uli yung mga tao physically, nabubuhay yung mga restaurants at yung mga tindahan, yung mga stores, kasi nasa labas yung mga tao at wala na sa bahay,” he said.
(What’s good about this is when people are physically reporting for work, it benefits restaurants and stores.)
The government declared over the weekend that the National Capital Region (NCR) and numerous other places around the country will be placed on Alert Level 1 from March 1 to 15, 2022.
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DTI: Work from home optional under Alert Level 1
Under Alert Level 1, all businesses, people, and activities are allowed to operate at full capacity. According to Lopez, the obligation for vaccinations would remain in place for indoor activities.
Despite this, residents in the areas mentioned earlier will still be required to comply with minimum public health standards such as following physical distancing and wearing face masks.
“Magbubukas ang ekonomiya but less ang restrictions [The economy will open but there will be less restrictions],” Lopez said.
Intrazonal and interzonal travel requirements would be reduced, the DTI chief said.
“Wala na yung requirement na RT-PCR [test], yung mga PNP clearance. Pero malaking bagay pa rin yung vaccination card,” Lopez said.
(Requirements like RT-PCR and PNP clearance will be removed but vaccination cards will still be needed.)
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