Damn if you do, damn if you don’t.

This seemed to be the message of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año as critics are apparently insinuating that the government is to blame if cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Metro Manila would go up after being placed under the more relaxed alert level 2.

“No matter what we do, there will always be critics and would always find wrong in any positive solutions, initiatives or policies. This is a democratic country. We just keep on working and do what is good for our country and the people,’’ Año said in a text message on Sunday, Nov. 7.

Parks, malls, bargain centers, drinking places and other usual go-to places were flocked as the excited public went scampering outdoors after months of being locked down in their homes.

The skeptics were dumbfounded with what they termed as “bigla-biglang (abrupt)’’ lowering of the alert level in the National Capital Region (NCR) with some disgusted individuals questioning the wisdom of the call.

However, some mostly the millenials were delighted with the relaxed NCR restrictions insisting the long months of being confined inside their homes is a mental torture due to extreme boredom and lack of interaction with others.

With minors allowed in the Metro Manila malls, a Quezon City mall security guard said there was an influx of shoppers with children in tow which is in stark contrast when the restrictions were a lot stricter.

“Sinisigurado namin na hanggat’s maari ay sinusunod yung physical distancing at yung normal na pagsusuot ng face masks and face shields (We just make sure that physical distancing as much as possible is observed and the usual wearing of face masks and face shields),’’ the mall guard said.

Although minors are allowed malls, Año noted that minors should be accompanied by their parents or guardians regardless of vaccination status.

“They may also eat either alfresco or indoors subject to the prescribed seating capacity. LGUs (local government units) may impose additional restrictions,’’ he added.

The DILG chief pointed out that “remember that when we started last year, we don't have any hospital or icu bed for Covid and we don't have a single vaccine. Now we have all of those health care facilities and vaccines; hence we can live with the virus and open our economies. Still we will implement the health protocols and standards strictly.’’

Año assured the increase police visibility “ in all potential spots of convergence especially during the Christmas season.’’

Even if Metro Manila has attained a satisfactory vaccination rate of the eligible population, Año stressed that “we must still adhere to the health protocols and comply with the minimum health standards.’’

Earlier, Año admitted there is always the possibility of a COVID-19 spike with the relaxed restrictions but assured that the Philippine national Police (PNP) and the LGUs will enforce the minimum public standards and prevent mass gatherings.

With the National Capital Region (NCR) attaining the more than 80 percent vaccination rate for eligible population, Año noted that the alert level review and assessment is done every two weeks with the LGUs having the authority to place any area under granular lockdowns.

“Kaya madali pa din address kapag may (COVID-19) surge o community transmission (That is why it is easy to address if there is a surge or community transmission),’’ Año said.

Likewise Año revealed that there are still ‘gatekeeping factors’ that the LGUs should impose like the Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate (PDITR) + Vaccination strategy. (Chito A. Chavez)