Metro Manila, other areas to remain under Alert Level 3 until Jan. 31

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region (NCR) will remain under Alert Level 3 until the end of January, Malacañang said Friday, as COVID-19 cases continue to spike in the country.

In a Palace briefing, Cabinet Secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases agreed to retain Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila from Jan. 16 to 31.

The capital region has been under Alert Level 3 since Jan. 3 amid the coronavirus surge believed to be driven by the Omicron variant.

Aside from Metro Manila, the following areas will also be under Alert Level 3 from Jan. 16 until the end of the month:

• Baguio City
• Ifugao
• Mountain Province
• Dagupan City
• Ilocos Sur
• City of Santiago
• Cagayan
• Angeles City
• Aurora
• Bataan
• Bulacan
• Olongapo City
• Pampanga
• Zambales
• Rizal
• Batangas
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Lucena City
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Camarines Norte
• Catanduanes
• Naga City
• Sorsogon
• Iloilo City
• Iloilo
• Negros Occidental
• Guimaras
• Lapu Lapu City
• Bohol
• Cebu
• Negros Oriental
• Ormoc City
• Biliran
• Eastern Samar
• Leyte
• Northern Samar
• Southern Leyte
• Western Samar
• City of Isabela
• Zamboanga City
• Zamboanga del Sur
• Bukidnon
• Iligan City
• Misamis Occidental
• Misamis Oriental
• Davao del Sur
• Davao del Norte
• General Santos City
• South Cotabato
• Surigao del Sur
• Agusan del Norte
• Lanao del Sur

Twenty-eight other areas have earlier been placed under Alert Level 3 starting Friday.

Under IATF guidelines on Alert Level 3, intrazonal and interzonal travel are subject to “reasonable restrictions” that may be imposed by local government units.

Individuals aged 18 below and those belonging to the vulnerable population are likewise permitted access and travel to procure and avail essential goods and services and for work.

Meanwhile, the government placed the following areas under Alert Level 2 from January 16-31:

• Apayao
• Batanes
• Palawan
• Puerto Princesa City
• Masbate
• Siquijor
• Zamboanga del Norte
• Zamboanga Sibugay
• Camiguin
• Lanao del Norte
• Davao de Oro
• Davao Occidental
• Davao Oriental
• North Cotabato
• Sarangani
• Sultan Kudarat
• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte
• Basilan
• Maguindanao
• Sulu
• Tawi-Tawi

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