MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila will remain under Alert Level 3 starting Nov. 1 until Nov. 14, Malacañang announced Friday.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque explained that the national pandemic task force decided to extend the alert level over the national capital region to avoid a sudden spike of COVID-19 cases.
This will also give the government more time to monitor further the movement of COVID-19 cases with more relaxed restrictions.
“Inuunti-unti natin iyong pagbaba ng alert level system nang sa ganoon ay hindi naman biglang sumipa muli ang numero ng mga kaso ng COVID,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.
(We are slowly and gradually lowering the alert level system so that we can avoid the sudden spike of COVID-19 cases.)
The government will study the COVID-19 situation after two weeks of an extended Alert Level 3 over Metro Manila and assess if the region is ready for another easing of restrictions, Roque said.
“Hintayin na lang po natin itong two weeks na ito. Panigurado lang ito para dahan-dahan ang ating pagbukas ng ekonomiya,” he added.
(Let’s wait for two weeks. This is to ensure that the opening of the economy is done slowly and gradually.)
Metro Manila was downgraded to Alert Level 3 starting Oct. 16. Some Metro Manila mayors have expressed readiness to further ease the region to Alert Level 2.
Based on IATF guidelines, businesses and establishments allowed to operate under Alert Level 3 must have a 30-percent venue capacity while 50 percent for those under Alert Level 2.
READ: Some NCR mayors say ready for Alert Level 2