Filipinos can expect a better holiday season this year, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Tuesday, November 2, as long as the number of COVID cases and the average daily attack rate (ADAR) continue to decrease.

The Palace official noted that policies for holiday parties and gatherings will soon be taken up by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, of which he is a member and spokesperson.

“Nasa low risk na nga po tayo ngayon. Pupwede naman pong bumaba ang alert level at ibig sabihin po niyan mas marami talagang negosyong magbubukas para lalong sumigla ang ating ekonomiya at mas marami ang makapagtrabaho at maraming makapag noche buena (We are at the low risk now. The alert level can still be lowered and that means there will be more businesses to reopen for our economy to be more vibrant and more people can work and enjoy noche buena),” Roque said.

He explained that under Alert Level 3, which covers the National Capital Region and neighboring provinces like Laguna and Cavite, some social gatherings are already being allowed.

READ: NCR stays under alert level 3; pilot areas for alert level system expanded

The spokesman, however, reminded the public to continue following health protocols and certain restrictions.

“Pero gaya ng aking sinabi po, wag naman po sanang mabalewala iyong napakadami nating sakripisyo at napakatagal nating pagtitiis dahil lang sa pagdating ng Pasko (But like I always said, let’s not put to waste all the sacrifices and the long time we endured just because of Christmas),” Roque said.

With a month to go before the holiday season, he revealed that officials will soon release the details of what are allowed and not allowed during gatherings.

Filipinos are known worldwide to have the “longest Christmas” that starts as soon as the "ber" months step in. Some homes have their holiday decorations up as early as September.

Citing the Department of Health’s (DOH) earlier pronouncement, Roque said that they are waiting for the ADAR to drop from 7.7 percent to seven percent before discussing the downgrading of the alert level.

READ: DOH tells LGUs to already prepare in case Metro Manila shifts to Alert Level 2

Under the current alert level, establishments are allowed to operate with 50 percent of their capacity but kids are still not allowed to go indoors especially in malls.

Provinces under the less stringent Alert Level 2 allow kids in malls and other indoor spaces.

Roque maintained that in case of a surge in cases because of the Christmas season, the IATF will act swiftly to impose quarantine restrictions.

“Alam na po natin kung kinakailangan, super bilis talaga gumalaw ang IATF (We all know that if needed, the IATF can act super fast),” he said.

On Monday, November 1, the Philippines logged 3,117 new cases, the lowest since May 23. Its intensive care unit (ICU) bed occupancy rate remains in the safe zone at 45 percent while the positivity rate is below eight percent, nearing the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of less than five percent.