Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal see surge in cases
THE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) yesterday placed the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal under Alert Level 3 from January 5 to 15 due to a sharp increase in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the three areas.
IATF Joint Resolution 155-A took effect just two days after the government placed the National Capital Region (NCR), which has been classified by the Department of Health on Monday as “high risk” for COVID-19, also under Alert Level 3.
Cabinet Secretary and acting spokesman Karlo Nograles said the IATF sub-Technical Working Group on Data Analytics recommended the escalated alert levels for the NCR Plus areas due to the exponential increase in infections reported by the local government units.
Nograles said JR 155-A was approved on January 3.
The Department of Health on Tuesday recorded 5,434 new COVID -19 cases, bringing the country’s total cases to 2.855 million. It also recorded 611 recoveries, bringing the total number of survivors to 2,779,706, and 18 new fatalities that raised the death toll to 51,604.
Under Alert Level 3, a 30-percent indoor venue capacity and 50-percent outdoor venue capacity will be allowed for some activities such as dine-in and personal care services, provided that employees and patrons of the establishments are fully vaccinated.
Not allowed under Alert Level 3 are face-to-face or in-person classes for basic education; contact sports, unless under a bubble-type setup; funfairs, carnival and amusement parks; venues with live voice or wind instrument performers; and casinos.
Gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household is also prohibited.
Those aged below 18 and above 59 years old are prohibited from going out unless for buying essentials such as food and medicines, for availing of essential services such as medical checkups, or going to work in businesses and industries that are allowed to operate.
On Monday, Metro Manila mayors prohibited the unvaccinated people in indoor and outdoor dining areas, leisure or social trips to malls, hotels, events venues, and sports-venues, and restricted domestic travel via public transportation except in procuring goods and services.
Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., during the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday, said one of the 17 mayors in NCR had disagreed with the restrictions, He did not name the official but said he would seek the official out and find out his reservations and concerns about the restriction.
Abalaos said the restrictions are just temporary but necessary while COVID cases are still up.
He said the raising of the alert level aims to protect the public especially the unvaccinated in NCR which he estimates is still between 100,000 to 250,000.
UNVACCINATED
Abalos said people who have not been vaccinated due to allergies and other medical conditions should be exempted from the restrictions on unvaccinated individuals in NCR.
“They should be really exempted. I mean, of course, that’s very understandable, that’s a medical condition,” he said.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said restricting the mobility of unvaccinated individuals would need a legal leg to stand on as the MMDA resolution on the issue is not legally binding.
Guevarra said Metro LGUs should pass their respective ordinance covering the restriction.
“The LGUs comprising the Metro Manila Council must enact their respective ordinance further restricting the mobility of unvaccinated persons. The MMDA resolution by itself is not legally effective,” Guevarra said in response to queries on the legality of the move of Metro LGUs to bar unvaccinated individuals from public places while the capital region is under Alert Level 3.
“Local legislative councils exercise police power delegated unto them by the Local Government Code which was enacted by the Congress. The delegated police power authorizes them to pass such ordinances as they are deemed to be for the welfare of their constituents,” he said.
LOCKDOWN VIOLATIONS
The PNP reported that 3,794 individuals were accosted on Monday during the first day of the implementation of Alert Level 3 in the NCR.
The violators were accosted for violation of the minimum public health standards, which includes the wearing of face mask and observance of physical distancing.
Of the violators, 3,183 were merely warned, 342 were fined and 269 were brought to the police stations for filing of charges.
The 2,515 violators accosted last Monday was over a thousand more than the previous day — the last day of implementation of Alert Level 2 in the NCR.
NCR shifted to the stricter Alert Level 3, from Alert Level 2, due to a surge in COVID-19 cases and the increasing threat of the Omicron variant.
The PNP said a total of 18,139 violators were accosted nationwide on Monday — 16,685 for MPHS violation, 914 for curfew violation, and 540 were non-authorized persons outside residence.
Of the violators accosted all over the country, 16,076 were warned, 1,183 were fined and 880 were brought to the police station for filing of charges.
GRANULAR LOCKDOWN
The PNP also reported that 16 areas in the NCR are under granular lockdown as of Wednesday, from just one the previous day.
It said 14 of these areas are under the Northern Police District, while the two others are in the areas of the Manila Police District and Southern Police District.
The 16 lockdown areas are guarded by 26 policemen and 41 force multipliers or personnel from the local government units.
Seven areas outside of Metro Manila are also under granular lockdown as of Monday — six in Mimaropa and one in the Cordillera Administrative Region.
PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said the PNP will ensure health protocols are followed in NCR establishments.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año earlier directed the PNP to conduct random inspection of business establishments to ensure that they are not accommodating customers beyond the allowed number under Alert Level 3.
“This will give the PNP the authority to intensify our inspection of these establishments since there is a directive from the DILG,” said Carlos, assuring compliance to Año’s order.
“These inspection rounds will be unannounced and shall be conducted randomly to determine which establishments are compliant with public health protocols. Let this be a warning that there is no room for complacency during this health emergency,” said Carlos. — With Ashzel Hachero and Victor Reyes
