President Duterte explained that the initially planned pilot implementation of the new granular lockdowns system in the National Capital Region (NCR) was deferred because it lacked specific guidelines that would cover possible contingencies.

Duterte made the statement after the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases "provisionally approved" the guidelines on the pilot implementation of the new alert levels system in NCR that is targeted to take place from September 16 to 30, 2021, instead of September 8.

In his pre-recorded public address aired Saturday morning, September 11, the President said he was one of the people who noted the lack of guidelines in the said new coronavirus (COVID-19) response scheme.

"The has deferred the implementation of general community quarantine with alert levels system in the National Capital Region-- ako ang isa nagsabi na kulang ang guidelines (I was one of the people who pointed out the lack of guidelines)-- this, to further refine the guidelines," he said.

With this, Duterte asked for the public's understanding as the government continues to implement policies to address the health crisis.

"I ask for general public's continued understanding and patience on this matter," he said.

"I know many of you are raring to go to work and conduct your business already but we have to make sure that we cover any contingency so that we may reduce the risk of infections," he added.

The President reiterated that he would not be this strict if only COVID-19 did not involve serious physical illness or even death.

" it's a matter of being a cough syrup or a pill for a headache-- a migraine, maybe-- hindi na ako makialam dito. Hindi na ako magsalita (I will not interfere. I will not say anything about it)," he said.

"But the problem is buhay, eh. 'Yan ang mahirap (lives are at stake. That's the problem). I would not want to be remembered as one who caused the death of so many," he added.

"Kung maaari lang, menos-menosan ko yung mamatay dito sa Pilipinas during my watch (If I could, I would diminish the number of people dying in the Philippines under my watch)," he continued.

The new granular lockdown scheme would have four alert levels and each level would determine the operational capacities of industries, establishments, and activities that would be allowed in areas placed under a granular lockdown.