The Alert Level System currently under pilot testing in the National Capital Region (NCR) would likely be extended until October, an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Saturday, Sept. 25.
In an interview over GMA News, DILG Undersecretary Empimaco Densing III said that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) has seen the ‘effects’ of the new scheme not only in the health but also in the country’s economic concerns.
“Mukhang nakikita natin nagkakaroon na ng epekto not to mention, secondary na hangarin ay natutupad ‘yung nagkakaroon ng pagbubukas ng ekonomiya. Nakakalabas ang ating mga kababayan para magnegosyo, kumita at magtrabaho (We are seeing its effects not to mention, its secondary purpose being attained which is to open the economy. The people are allowed to go out for livelihood purposes),’’ Densing said.
He added that the imposition of the Alert Level System is being eyed by the government in the provinces specifically in highly urbanized areas with the plan coming up after the DILG met with the provincial governors last Monday.
“Ang tingin po namin dito kung ready ( provinces) na po, baka doon lang tayo (Alert Level System implementation) sa mga lugar o pilot areas lang din sa mga probinsya at mga highly-urbanized city (If they are ready, we might start the implementation in the provinces and highly-urbanized cities)’’ he added.
Densing said there is a need to ‘tweak’ some provisions in the implementing guidelines based on the consultations with the local officials.
Metro Manila was placed under Alert Level 4 from Sept. 16 to 30 in lieu of the previous varying community quarantine schemes in a bid to further contain the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) transmission while many industries remain operational.
In the new scheme, areas under alert level 4, the second highest alert level are those with COVID-19 case counts that are high or increasing while total beds and intensive care unit (ICU) beds are at high utilization rate where granular lockdowns are enforced.
Under alert level 4, there will be certain restrictions for establishments and activities that would fall under the ‘3Cs’ that pertains to closed spaces, crowded spaces and activities that promote close contact. (Chito A. Chavez)