‘Very peaceful’ start to Alert Level 4 in NCR, says PNP

The start of the implementation of Alert Level 4 in the National Capital Region on Thursday has been "very peaceful," with establishments complying with the guidelines, the PNP and the MMDA said.

At a Palace briefing, Philippine National Police chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said commanders on the ground reported that no problem has occurred so far.

“Base sa ulat ng ating mga commanders lalo na dito sa Metro Manila, very peaceful. Wala pa tayong problema,” he said.

(Based on the reports of our commanders in Metro Manila, very peaceful. We have no problems yet.)

Eleazar said he earlier ordered concerned police units to coordinate with local government units on the process of the implementation of Alert Level 4.

READ: How the new COVID-19 alert levels and granular lockdowns work

He added that police officers will be deployed to areas under granular lockdowns. Even before the Alert Level 4 started, the PNP chief said at least 54 specific areas were already placed under lockdown.

In a statement, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benhur Abalos expressed satisfaction with the establishments they inspected on Thursday.

“We are satisfied with the private establishments’ compliance to the guidelines for the Alert Level system piloted in Metro Manila. Despite the short notice to the mayors, they all delivered,” he said.

Abalos, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, and Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos inspected restaurants, salons, and other establishments in Greenhills Shopping Center and SM Megamall.

They checked if the establishments were following the Alert Level 4 guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

Abalos said they already coordinated with the PNP and the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the enforcement of rules the provision of the food supply.

On Tuesday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said NCR will be under Alert Level 4 as part of the pilot of the implementation of the new alert level system.

Areas under Alert Level 4 — the second highest alert level in the new scheme — are those with infections that are high or increasing while total beds and ICU beds are at high utilization rate.

Those who are not allowed outside their residences under Alert Level 4 are:

• persons below 18 years old
• those who are over 65 years of age
• those with immunodeficiencies, comorbidities, or other health risks
• pregnant women

These individuals will only be allowed to go out to access or obtain essential goods and services, or for work in permitted industries and offices.

Under Alert Level 4, intrazonal and interzonal travel for persons not otherwise required to remain at their residences may be allowed subject to the reasonable regulations of the local government of destination.

On Wednesday, Metro Manila Council chairperson Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez said the presence of one COVID-19 case will be enough to impose a lockdown on a house or a condominium floor.

To impose a lockdown on an entire street, Olivarez said, there should be at least two COVID-19 cases. — BM, GMA News