FILE PHOTO: Commuters onboard public transport in Metro Manila. INQUIRER/RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — The government should first ensure the readiness of Metro Manila before placing it under the lowest COVID-19 alert level, the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) said Thursday.
PCP President Dr. Maricar Limpin said the group also do not want another lockdown due to COVID-19 but emphasized that everything has to be ready before Metro Manila shifts to Alert Level 1.
“I’d like to really emphasize, for us in the health sector, I think there is no argument, we do not want to have another lockdown because definitely, the Philippines cannot have another lockdown, and therefore our appeal is actually just to make sure that when we do downgrade to Alert Level 1, everything is already prepared,” she said at the Go Negosyo forum.
“We cannot be going to Alert Level 1 without all the necessary things, the infrastructures to be in place. Otherwise, then we can expect what we have experienced before and that is another possible increase in COVID-19 cases,” she added.
On Wednesday, Parañaque City Mayor and Metro Manila Council Chairman Edwin Olivarez revealed that Metro Manila mayors have unanimously voted to downgrade the alert level status in the capital region to Alert Level 1.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque added that Metro Manila may be placed under Alert Level 1 but clarified that it is still subject to deliberations by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Limpin earlier warned that although COVID-19 cases are currently decreasing, cases may increase again if people will be complacent.
“I hope we will be one with this, and we can live with the virus. I agree with everyone on that but we can live with it making sure that the environment is still safe for everyone,” she said.
Metro Manila has 19,965 active cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday.