(Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer / file photo
MANILA, Philippines — The government’s COVID-19 alert level system will still be only be implemented in Metro Manila until October 15, Malacañang said Thursday.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has thumbed down proposals to expand the implementation of the new alert level system, with focus on granular lockdowns, beyond Metro Manila, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
The original quarantine classifications, (enhanced community quarantine , general community quarantine) will be enforced in the rest of the country.
The government piloted its new alert level system in Metro Manila starting Sept. 16 where it placed the region under Alert Level 4.
For the extension of the pilot run, the IATF has allowed gyms and fitness studios to reopen under Alert Level 4 at 20% capacity for fully vaccinated clients, given that all gym workers are also fully vaccinated.
Clients and service providers are likewise required to wear face masks at all times and no group activities will be allowed, Roque said.
Meanwhile, the government’s pandemic task force has also increased the allowable indoor capacities for dine-in services, in-person religious services and personal care services by 10%.
Malacañang did not announce which alert level Metro Manila would be under as it will be the Department of Health (DOH) that will announce it.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, however, announced that Metro Manila will remain under Alert Level 4 until Oct. 15.
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) earlier backed proposals to implement the alert level system in other areas, since it has so far been effective in the capital region given the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases.
Neda chief Karl Chua said that with the fewer restrictions since control is focused on specified areas, the economy is still able to run and more employees are retrieving their jobs.
Roque said areas under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the second strictest classification, from Oct. 1 to 15 are:
-Apayao
-Kalinga
-Batanes
-Bataan
-Bulacan
-Cavite
-Lucena City
-Rizal
-Laguna
-Naga City
-Iloilo province
Meanwhile, areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions starting Oct. 1 until Oct. 31 are:
-Abra
-Baguio City
-Ilocos Sur
-Pangasinan
-Cagayan
-Isabela
-City of Santiago
-Nueva Vizcaya
-Quirino
-Quezon
-Batangas
-Bacolod City
-Capiz
-Iloilo City
-Lapu-Lapu City
-Negros Oriental
-Bohol
-Zamboanga del Norte
-Zamboanga del Sur
-Cagayan de Oro City
-Misamis Oriental
-Davao del Norte
-Davao Occidental
-Butuan City
-Surigao del Sur
Roque said Davao de Oro will also be under GCQ with heightened restrictions but only from October 1 to 15.
Areas under GCQ from Oct. 1 to 31 are:
Luzon
-Ilocos Norte
-Dagupan City
-Benguet
-Ifugao
-Tarlac
-Marinduque
-Occidental Mindoro
-Oriental Mindoro
-Puerto Princesa
-Albay
-Camarines Norte
Visayas
-Aklan
-Antique
-Guimaras
-Negros Occidental
-Cebu City
-Cebu Province
-Mandaue City
-Siquijor
-Tacloban City
Mindanao
-Zamboanga Sibugay
-Zamboanga City
-Misamis Occidental
-Iligan City
-Davao City
-Davao Oriental
-Davao del Sur
-General Santos City
-Sultan Kudarat
-Sarangani
-North Cotabato
-South Cotabato
-Agusan del Norte
-Agusan del Sur
-Dinagat Islands
-Surigao del Norte
-Cotabato City
-Lanao del Sur
The rest of the Philippines will be under the least restrictive modified GCQ, Roque said.