PRESIDENT Duterte yesterday issued Executive Order 151 authorizing the nationwide implementation of the alert level system (ALS) approach to slow down the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.
The government pilot tested the ALS, which replaced the community quarantine classification strategy, in the National Capital Region (NCR) in September. It was expanded to select regions in November.
In signing EO 151, the President said: “The nationwide shift to the Alert Level System would allow for the reinvigoration of the economy through the opening of more sectors, while protecting the people’s health through the continuous observance of public health protocols and interventions and the heightened implementation of lockdowns in smaller areas, also known as granular lockdowns.”
He added that while the community quarantine classification system proved crucial in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the country, “the cumulative impact of the prohibitions and regulations under that system on social, economic and other non-COVID-19 health objectives cannot be overlooked.”
EO 151 states that the nationwide rollout would be done in four phases.
Phase one is now being enforced in the NCR, Central Luzon (Region III), Calabarzon (Region IV-A), Western Visayas (Region VI), Central Visayas (Region VII), Northern Mindanao (Region X), and Davao Region (Region XI).
The President said phase two would cover the Ilocos Region (Region 1), Eastern Visayas (Region VIII), and Soccsksargen (Region XII) “before the end of November.”
Phase three will cover Cagayan Valley (Region II), Bicol (Region V), and Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX). Implementation will start one week after phase two is implemented.
Phase four shall be implemented in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Mimaropa (Region IV-B), Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) a week after phase three to complete the nationwide implementation of the ALS.
Pending its full rollout, the implementation of the community quarantine system shall continue to be observed.
EO 151 states that once the nationwide full implementation of the ALS comes into effect, Executive Order No. 112, which authorized the implementation of the community quarantine system in the country, shall be repealed.
It likewise mandates all departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the government, including state colleges and universities, government-owned or controlled corporations, government financial institutions, and LGUs to render full assistance to and cooperation with the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and mobilize the necessary resources for the full implementation of the ALS.
Meanwhile, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) yesterday said only fully vaccinated sellers and personnel will be allowed to man Christmas bazaars and other seasonal markets that will operate during the holiday season.
In a statement, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos said Resolution No. 21-27 provides the unified standard guidelines on the conduct of bazaars, tiangges, pop-up stores and other establishments, which have been allowed to operate under alert level 2.
MMC, composed of the 17 local government units of Metro Manila, is the governing body and policy-making body of the MMDA.
Abalos said all traders, salespersons, exhibitors, organizers, and other personnel of the seasonal markets will be required to present proof that they have received their two doses of anti-COVID vaccines before they are allowed to put up their stalls.
“These will help reduce risk of transmitting the virus since they are seasonal in nature and sellers come from various parts of the country making contract tracing difficult on the part of the local government units,” he said.
He recalled the polio outbreak in the country in September 2019, saying that holiday stores were identified as significant contributors in the spread of the polio virus. — With Noel Talacay
