MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos visited vaccination sites in some parts of Metro Manila to ensure an orderly process. (Image from MMDA)
MANILA, Philippines — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos on Saturday pointed out that the Department of Health (DOH) has the final decision on the alert level that would be imposed in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro earlier said that the mayors were not consulted on the downgrading of Metro Manila’s alert level from 4 to 3.
“Number one, nagkakaisa ang mga mayors as always on major policies. Number two, nagkaroon po kami ng pagpupulong dito last Sunday kasama po ang Department of Health. Sila po ang nagpresenta tungkol sa sitwasyon po ngayon sa Metro Manila,” Abalos said during the Laging Handa briefing.
(Metro Manila mayors are always united on major policies. Second, we had a meeting last Sunday with the DOH. They presented the situation in Metro Manila.)
“At of course, I would like to point out lang po na pagdating sa pagbababa ng alert level, ayon sa pilot po natin na kondisyon, iisang ahensiya lamang ang magdi-determine dito – hindi po ang mga mayors ‘no, hindi po kung sinuman, even DTI (Department of Trade and Industry). Ayon sa kondisyon, it is only the Department of Health ‘no,” he added.
(And of course, I would like to point out that when it comes to revising the alert level, based on our conditions, only one agency will determine it, not anyone, not even the DTI. It is only the Department of Health.)
Abalos said mayors always defer to the wisdom of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Metro Manila eased to Alert Level 3 starting October 16 after being under Alert Level 4 since September 16.
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