BY IRMA ISIP and Gerard Naval
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) yesterday said the reopening of the economy should be done gradually when the quarantine status of the country is downgraded to Alert Level 1 to prevent another surge in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.
Trade Undersecretary Ruth Castelo, in an interview with DZBB radio, said that while they back calls to ease quarantine restrictions and open more businesses and jobs amid a downward trend in COVID-19 infections, “the recommendation of the economic group is to reopen gradually.”
“That decision will depend on the (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) collegial body… Even if we shift to Alert Level 1, the virus is still here and we should still follow the minimum health protocols,” said Castelo.
Under Alert Level 1, capacities of establishments that are now operating at 50 percent will be raised to 100 percent, thereby increasing people’s mobility.
Castelo said that this means that the 1.5 million establishments in the country — one million of which are micro, small and medium enterprises — will all be operating at 100 percent.
The still prohibited activities like casinos, cockfighting and gambling as well as live events like concerts can already resume, but Castelo said these could still be limited under Alert Level 1.
“We will issue a new advisory for those which will be allowed to open. We will also coordinate with the DOH (Department of Health) on the protocols once full operation of establishments is allowed,” she said.
Aside from wearing of masks, observing physical distancing and sanitation of facilities, Castelo encouraged establishments to get a Safety Seal from the DTI.
“The Safety Seal will be important as it will assure consumers and customers that
establishments follow the protocols,” she said.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III backed proposals to downgrade Metro Manila to Alert Level 1 from its current Alert Level 2.
In a virtual press briefing, Bello said: “The shift from Alert Level 3 to 2 was a great help. It revived business. And if business is revived, the employment sector will also be revived. We really want this to drop to Alert Level 1 so that business will be revived further, and, thus, employment will also fully recover.”
National Task Force against coronavirus disease (NTF COVID-19) chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. and task force adviser Ted Herbosa said the continuing decline of COVID-19 cases in Bulacan and the NCR could lead to a possible lowering of their current alert levels.
Galvez, during the launch of the vaccination for five-11-year-olds at the Hiyas Convention Center in Malolos in Bulacan, said active cases in the province have gone down to about 75 from more than 200 in the past weeks.
“We are going down. We can already go down to Alert Level 1. As we can see, when the cases go down in NCR, we see the other regions, we see Bulacan as among the first to go down. It means the COVID response is good,” he said.
Herbosa, in an interview with radio DzBB, said: “It is possible here in NCR, (but) that’s my personal opinion. The vaccination rate here is high, people are now able to go out. The daily cases are no longer high. It is possible as long as you continue to wear the face masks and get vaccinated.”
As of February 9, NCR recorded 3,574 new cases, bringing the total cases in the region to 3,619.
Herbosa, however, said the start of the campaign period for national candidates should be considered in deciding the alert level for February 16 to 28 in Metro Manila and other areas in the country.
He said that looking at the proclamation rallies held on Tuesday, it was “very scary” considering the number of people that attended the gatherings.
Cabinet Secretary and IATF co-chairman Karlo Nograles, in an interview with Radyo Pilipinas, said the IATF will make a preliminary assessment on the alert levels in its meeting today but is likely to finalize and announce the new alert levels for Metro Manila and other areas by February 13 or 14.
OCTA Research fellow Guido David shifting the NCR o Alert Level 1 from the current Alert Level 2 must be based on data-driven evidence.
“We must look at the numbers and other important metrics, including hospital utilization, vaccine and booster coverage,” said David.
As of February 7, OCTA data shows that Metro Manila is still at “moderate risk” classification, although it is already nearing “low risk” level.
Bello said he has ordered a massive labor inspection of business establishments in preparation to the shift to Alert Level 1.
David rejected the proposal to remove the alert level system as it noted the continued threat of COVID-19.
“From our perspective, the Alert Level System is a requirement as long as we are in a state of emergency or state of pandemic. The Alert Level System is tied up with the presence of the state of calamity or state of national emergency,” he said.
David said that removing the system must conform with the declarations of the World Health Organization (WHO). “If the WHO says we are no longer in a state of pandemic, only then can we remove the alert level system,” he added.
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion has proposed the removal of the Alert Level System, saying that the country already needs to shift from crisis mode to recovery mode to enable the public to engage in more economic activities such as going to shops, dining out, traveling and going back to work, — With Jocelyn Montemayor
