Alert Level System deemed effective vs COVID-19 threat –DILG

The implementation of the Alert Level System on a nationwide scale was seen as effective against the COVID-19 threat, Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said on Friday.

Densing said there was a continuous decrease in cases and improvement in the daily attack rate and health care utilization rates during the pilot implementation of the Alert Level System.

“Pagkatapos po nag pilot tayo sa 10 regions as of today, nakita po natin yung continuous na pagbaba ng mga kaso pagimprove ng daily attack rate at mga health care utilization rates pero of course kaakibat nitong Alert Level System ay pinapatupad din natin yung mga granular lockdowns yung mga maliitang lockdowns sa ibat ibang lugar,” Densing said in an interview with GTV’s Balitanghali on Friday.

(After the pilot run in 10 regions, as of today, we saw a continuous decrease in cases, improved daily attack rates, and health care utilization rates. But of course, aside from this Alert Level System, we also implemented granular lockdowns, which are small lockdowns in various places.)

“Nakita nating epektibo at nakumbinsi natin si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte magshift na to Alert Level System plus granular lockdown instead doon sa lumang community quarantine na pinapatupad natin,” he added.

(We saw the effectiveness and we convinced President Rodrigo Duterte to shift to the Alert Level System plus granular lockdowns instead of the old community quarantine that we are implementing.)

Malacañang announced on Friday that the Alert Level System will be implemented on a nationwide scale amid the COVID-19 pandemic starting Friday, November 12.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) approved the nationwide implementation of the Alert Level System in Regions 1, 8, and 12 beginning today; in Regions 2, 5, and 9 starting November 17; and in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Regions 4B, 13, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao come November 22.

Under the Alert Level System, lockdowns are limited to communities where there is a high level of COVID-19 transmission.

Duterte issued Executive Order 151 after the IATF recommended the nationwide adoption of the system on October 28.  — DVM, GMA News