MANILA, Philippines — The lower number of COVID-19 cases and decreased health care utilization rate in Metro Manila are among the basis for the government to expand the pilot implementation of the new alert level system to other areas, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque did not categorically say that the pilot implementation in the National Capital Region was successful but he did say that it contributed to the decline of cases and health care utilization rates.
“Sabihin natin na ‘yung pagbaba ng kaso saka pag-improve ng healthcare utilization rate ay parang may kinalaman sa alert level na inumpisahan sa Metro Manila, dahilan para palawakin pa natin ang ating pilot implementation,” he said in a Palace briefing.
(Let’s say that the lowered number of cases and the improvement in utilization rates have something to do with the alert level system which was piloted in Metro Manila so we are expanding the pilot implementation.)
Roque said the areas selected would still be part of the pilot study and the rest of the areas in the country would still follow the previous quarantine classifications.
“We are expanding our pilot implementation habang binubusisi ‘yung resulta ng intial pilot. ‘Pag napag aralan na mas epektibo ito, i-implement ito on a nationwide basis. Sa ngayon, limited pilot study pa rin tayo,” he said.
(We are expanding the implementation while we are studying the results of the initial pilot phase. If it turns out to be more effective, we will implement the new alert level system on a nationwide basis. For now, this is still under pilot study.)
Roque said the following areas will be placed under the following alert levels:
Alert Level 4
-Negros Oriental
-Davao Occidental
Alert Level 3
-Cavite
-Laguna
-Rizal
-Siquijor
-Davao City
-Davao del Norte
Alert Level 2
-Batangas
-Quezon province
-Lucena City
-Bohol
-Cebu City
-Lapu-Lapu City
-Mandaue City
-Cebu province
-Davao de Oro
-Davao del Sur
-Davao Oriental
The alert level classification will last until Oct. 31, Roque added.
The government piloted its five-tier alert level system over Metro Manila starting Sept. 16.
Meanwhile, the government’s pandemic task force agreed to downgrade Bulacan, Apayao, and Capiz to general community quarantine (GCQ) until Oct. 31.
Bulacan and Apayao were previously placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the second strictest quarantine classification and Capiz was previously under GCQ with heightened restrictions.
Metro Manila was downgraded to Alert Level 3 starting Oct. 16.