(FILE PHOTO) Commuters onboard public transport in Metro Manila. INQUIRER/RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has instructed the Department of Health (DOH) to further study the COVID-19 alert level system now being implemented by the government.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said this Friday after the President met with health officials in Malacañang earlier this week.
“As to the alert level system, napag-usapan ito. Nai-presenta natin to the President kung ano ang ating current alert level system, ano ang ating mga metrics and he had some form of guidance for us,” Vergeire said during the Laging Handa briefing.
(As to the alert level system, this was discussed. We presented to the President our current alert level system and the metrics we use and he had some form of guidance for us.)
“Meron siyang mga komento, in-analyze nya kung ano yung mga metrics natin ngayon, and binigyan nya kami ng instructions to further study these alert levels para maging mas appropriate for our situation,” she added.
(He had comments, analyzed our current metrics, and had instructions to further study these alert levels so that they will be more appropriate for our situation.)
Currently, Metro Manila is under COVID-19 Alert Level 1 until July 15.
Malacañang said 85 of 121 provinces, highly urbanized cities and independent component cities, and 166 of 744 other component cities and municipalities are also under Alert Level 1.
Meanwhile, several provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities are also placed under Alert Level 2.
Vergeire said the issue of retaining the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases was not discussed during the meeting with Marcos.
“Ang napag-usapan lang natin talaga would be specific to the COVID-19 situation and the vaccination program,” Vergeire said.
(What we discussed was specific to the COVID-19 situation and the vaccination program.)
“I think it would be appropriate if it’s going to be the Office of the President to provide more details on this,” she added.