Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Secretary Joey Concepcion (INQUIRER file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — Aside from pushing to use the COVID-19 alert level system only when there is a threat, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion on Tuesday suggested trimming the system into three levels.
The alert level system currently has five levels.
“My own wish, we set aside the alert level system and we live a normal life. But, what is that normal life? We have to still maintain a basic minimum health protocol. That has to be defined,” Concepcion said on ABS-CBN News Channel’s Headstart.
“But, the ALS or alert level system is still there. So, we can bring it back once we see the threat and my only suggestion is maybe we can trim it down. Instead of Alert Level 1 to 5, maybe we can trim it down to Alert Level 1 to 3. So, you have no alert and you have the Alert Level 1 to 3,” he pointed out.
Concepcion believes that the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases and the private sector should discuss, review, and improve his proposal.
The Palace official likewise stressed the need to relax the country’s restrictions.
“It’s important that the Philippines continue its growth, that is key. I mean, we have been ravaged by this pandemic. A lot of [micro, small and medium enterprises] have been hurt greatly and we have to open up,” said Concepcion.
“We cannot just close everything. We have to open up everything. So that business can prosper and people can do better in life and they can—some people will rebuild their lives because they have lost their businesses,” he continued.
Concepcion has earlier proposed that COVID-19 vaccine booster shot card be required for individuals entering establishments to ensure that people are still protected from COVID-19.
Currently, Alert Level 2 is in effect over Metro Manila, Batanes, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Biliran, Southern Leyte, and Basilan.
The rest of the country, meanwhile, is under Alert Level 3.
As of February 7, the country has logged 3,616,387 COVID-19 infections with 6,835 new cases on Monday, February 7.