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The Department of Health (DOH) is set to recommend to the government’s pandemic task force the “decoupling” of restrictions from the Covid-19 Alert Level System.

Senator Sonny Angara said he hopes that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases would hold dialogues with local government units (LGUs) to discuss the mandatory wearing of face masks against Covid-19.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is optimistic that the downgrading of COVID Alert in Metro Manila and other areas in the country to Level 1 status will have a big positive impact on the county’s tourism sector.

The PBA is anticipating a setup similar to the ones being implemented in movie theaters in the event the Inter-Agency Task Force allows the league to welcome back fans in the season-ending Governors’ Cup.

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon warned the public on Tuesday, November 9 not to be complacent and to observe health protocols after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) recently placed Metro Manila under Alert Level 2 on November 5.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the government failed to balance its response to the coronavirus disease with the need of equally salvaging the economy from the pandemic-induced crisis.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday, Oct. 3 urged the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to consider easing quarantine restrictions to pave way for the resumption of many business operations as more working parents can now return to work.

Citing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as the reason, President Duterte has extended the life of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force up to the last day of his term on June 30, 2022.

President Duterte’s chief economic manager said the government needs a new approach to rein in coronavirus cases and revive the economy as lockdown orders no longer provide benefits to the country.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial declined to entertain questions regarding other issues affecting the league, particularly the issue surrounding Kiefer Ravena’s signing with the Japanese club Shiga Lakestars.

The PBA was finally given the go-signal by the Inter-Agency Task Force to begin its 46th season on July 16 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City after months of delays due to the fluidity of the COVID-19 situation.

The question as to when the PBA’s 46th season will start now lies on the Inter-Agency Task Force after the league presented its case on Wednesday, July 7.

The government’s pandemic task force is set to discuss once again the travel protocols within the Philippines for fully vaccinated individuals, the Department of Health (DOH) said. DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said that the public need to present a negative RT-PCR test result when traveling to their destination if the local government unit (LGUs) requires it. This is regardless of their vaccination status. According to the DOH, Duque was referring to Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution No. 101 “where it is up to the LGU if they will still require testing.” “IATF Resolution No. 101 remains in effect, which affords the LGUs the flexibility to require a negative RT-PCR result before granting anyone entry to their locality,” the DOH said in a statement. Last July 4, the Malacanang announced IATF Resolution No. 124-B, “allowing vaccination cards as sufficient alternatives to any testing requirements before travel or upon arrival to LGU of destination.” However, some local government units expressed their hesitation to this new policy. “Bago yan, ang dati nating resolusyon ay mayroon tayong testing…Sa ngayon ibabalik muna natin doon. Hanggat sa maayos natin (Before that, our previous resolution was that we require testing … For now, we will once again implement that, as we resolve this),” said Duque in a program in ABS-CBN Teleradyo on Wednesday, July 7. The members of the IATF, together with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), are set to resolve this matter on Thursday, July 8, said Duque. “Parang nagkakaproblema dahil yung implementation medyo may mga operational challenges o difficulties. So paplantayhin natin ito bukas (It seems that there are problems because the implementation has some operational challenges or difficulties. So we will iron this out tomorrow),” he said. “Sa ngayon ibabalik muna natin doon (previous protocol). Hanggat sa maayos natin. Bukas matapos ang usapin, kung kinakailangan amyendahan pa itong Resolution No. 124-B (For now, we will implement the previous protocol. Tomorrow, the matter will be discussed and let’s see if there’s a need to amend this Resolution No. 124-B),” he added.

DRIVING THOUGHTS

Professional teams can now resume practices inside the so-called NCR Plus bubble after the Inter-Agency Task Force allowed the re-opening of indoor non-contact sports venues.

Now that a more substantial number of vaccines is set to arrive in the country this month – about 9.95 million as per vaccine czar Calito Galvez Jr. – expect the country’s vaccination rollout to shift to high gear in the third quarter of 2021.

The national government has granted the request for national team athletes to get their vaccines for COVID-19 as the Inter-Agency Task Force elevated the Tokyo Olympics-bound and Southeast Asian Games athletes to the priority list in the nationwide vaccination program.

Expect more professional boxing tournaments to happen not only in the provinces but also in Metro Manila in the coming months after the Joint Administrative Order updated the supplemental guideline for sporting events.