Alert 3 raised in 2 cities, 5 provinces
METRO Manila will remain under Alert Level 2 until the end of February, but two cities and five provinces will be escalated to Alert Level 3, Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said yesterday.
Nograles said the new alert levels are contained in Resolution No. 161, which was issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on February 14. The new levels were recommended by the sub-Technical Working Group on Data Analytics.
The Metro Manila Council had also recommended the retention of Alert Level 2 in the region, according to MMC chairman and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez during the nationwide launching of the “Resbakuna Kids” held at The Theatre in Solaire.
Olivarez said that while there is a lower hospital care utilization and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) bed utilization rates in NCR, there is still a need to lower the cases in the region.
Romando Artes, who is the officer in charge and General Manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), also said that only five out of the 17 local government units (LGUs) in the NCR have a low-risk classification for COVID-19 transmission, while the rest have a moderate risk classification.
Artes said Metro mayors have taken the position that a less stringent alert level in the NCR may result in super spreader events, especially amid the campaign activities for the May 2022 elections.
“We have seen a lot of candidates holding political activities such as motorcades and caravans. Hence, we do not want a COVID-19 super spreader event,” he said.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, at the vaccination event for children aged 5 to 11 , said it is not yet time to lower the alert level, especially in NCR, the average daily attack rate (ADAR) in the region is still high.
He said the alert level should only be downgraded when the ADAR drops to seven or below.
The IATF has placed under Alert Level the cities of Iloilo and Zamboanga, and the provinces of Iloilo, Guimaras, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental and South Cotabato from February 16 until 28.
On the other hand, aside from NCR, other areas under Alert Level 2 from February 16 to 28 are the cities of Baguio, Dagupan, Santiago, Angeles, Olongapo, Lucena, Puerto Princesa and Naga in Luzon; the cities of Bacolod, Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Ormoc, and Tacloban in the Visayas; and the cities of Isabela, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Davao, General Santos, Butuan and Cotabato in Mindanao.
Also under Alert level 2 are the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino, Bulacan, Aurora, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon in Luzon.
In the Visayas, placed under Alert Level 2, are the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Western Samar, Biliran and Southern Leyte.
In Mindanao, under Alert Level 2 are Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, Camiguin Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, North Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Basilan, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Lanao del Sur.
The DOH and the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) yesterday backed the decision of the IATF to retain Alert Level 2 in the NCR until the end of the month.
In a televised public briefing, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said she believes that it would be premature for NCR to shift to Alert Level 1 as the vaccination coverage is not yet sufficient.
“We should do it gradually and with proper assessment. While many have been vaccinated, people may think, when we shift to Alert Level 1, we don’t need the minimum public health standards (MPHS) anymore. (Thus,), we may see another surge,” said Cabotaje.
This was seconded by PMA President Dr. Benito Atienza, who said it would be better if drastic shifts will not be adopted.
“For us, it is not yet time (to deescalate). If we suddenly shift the restrictions and remove them, we may have a similar experience as other countries and see another surge,” said Atienza.
VAX CERTIFICATE
Nograles said the IATF has approved the acceptance and recognition of the vaccination certificates of Malaysia and Ireland for purposes of arrival quarantine protocols, as well as for interzonal/intrazonal movement.
“The IATF directed the Bureau of Quarantine, the Department of Transportation – One-Stop-Shop and the Bureau of Immigration to recognize proofs of vaccination thus approved by the IATF,” he added.
Prior to this, the IATF previously approved and recognized the vaccination certificates issued by Brazil, Israel, South Korea, Timor Leste, Slovenia, Bahrain, Qatar, Switzerland, and Hong Kong. — With Noel Talacay and Gerard Naval
