Gov’t execs recommend PH-wide adoption of NCR policy on unvaxxed

(FILE) Passengers show their vaccination cards upon entering the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 at Edsa-North Avenue Station to avail of a free ride starting Tuesday to August 20, 2021, as the NCR reverts back to ECQ due to the rise of Delta variant covid19 cases. Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — National government officials are recommending that the policy in Metro Manila to restrict the movement of those not vaccinated against COVID-19 be adopted in the entire country, National Task Force against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon said Wednesday.

In a taped briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte aired on Wednesday morning, Dizon lauded the policy which was crafted by the 17 mayors of Metro Manila through the Metro Manila Council.

“Nag-usap na kami ni Secretary Año, Secretary Duque, Secretary Galvez at Secretary Lorenzana na we are recommending that this policy in NCR also be adopted by the entire country, even in areas na hindi pa nagsu-surge,” he said.

“Alam naman natin na it is really just a matter of time na itong Omicron ay kumalat na sa buong bansa,” Dizon added.

(We know that it is just a matter of time that this Omicron variant will spread in the country.)

Amid the alarming rise of COVID-19 cases in the region, which has been placed under the stricter Alert Level 3, Metro Manila mayors earlier agreed to impose limits on the movement of persons who are unvaccinated against the severe respiratory illness.

Under Alert Level 3, unvaccinated persons in Metro Manila must remain in their homes at all times except when they are obtaining essential goods and services, according to the MMDA.

They are also barred from going to indoor and outdoor dining areas, leisure or social trips to malls, hotels, events, venues, sports and country clubs, and similar establishments.

Unvaccinated people are likewise restricted from domestic travel via public transportation except in procuring goods and services, the MMDA said.

Outdoor individual activities, however, are allowed regardless of vaccination status.

Metro Manila is currently under “critical risk” for COVID-19 amid the increase of COVID-19 cases, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

So far, health authorities have detected three local cases of the Omicron variant, which indicates that there is a “high possibility” that there is already local transmission of the feared variant in the country.

/MUF