Palace backs mayors’ suggestion to downgrade Metro Manila to Alert Level 3

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila mayors have suggested to downgrade the metropolis under Alert Level 3, given the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases, Malacañang said Thursday.

While it is the Department of Health (DOH) that decides the alert level of an area, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Malacañang supports the suggestion to ease Metro Manila from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 3 to allow more businesses to reopen.

“Alam ko ang mga Metro Manila mayors ay nagsuhestiyon na na ibaba sa Alert Level 3 at suportado natin ‘yan,” he said in a Palace briefing.

(What I know is the mayors have already suggested downgrading to Alert Level 3 and we support that.)

“Pero ang desisyon ay magiging desisyon ng DOH,” he added.

(The decision lies with the DOH.)

Metro Manila is currently under Alert Level 4, the second highest under the government’s new alert level system which it piloted in the capital region.

The Alert Level 4 over the metropolis is set to expire on Sept. 30 and the government needs to decide whether to extend it starting Oct. 1 or downgrade it to Alert Level 3.

Roque said the government’s pandemic task force, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, is set to meet on Thursday afternoon to discuss quarantine restrictions for the month of October.

An official of the DOH earlier said Metro Manila may remain under Alert Level 4 based on current metrics, though experts will continue to review data to determine the region’s new status for October.

In a report released on Thursday, independent pandemic monitor Octa Research group said Metro Manila’s COVID-19 reproduction number further dropped to 0.87, which is “considered low.”

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos earlier said he is hopeful that Metro Manila would be placed under alert level 3, citing the decreasing number of cases in the capital region.

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