NCR alert level in March known over weekend, says MMDA exec

COVID-19 alert level in the National Capital Region starting March will be announced either on Saturday or Sunday, an official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said Friday.

Interviewed on ANC, MMDA officer-in-charge and general manager Romando Artes said presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles will make the announcement.

“Decisions were made but as the usual protocol, it will be Secretary Karlo Nograles who will announce the decision probably by Saturday or Sunday because there are some guidelines being finalized before the proper announcement,” he said.

Artes said he attended the Thursday meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

The metrics to qualify for deescalation to Alert Level 1 has been adjusted, according to Artes. Despite the changes, he said the NCR is still good for the lowest alert level classification.

“I think we already qualified despite the fact that there were some adjustments in the metrics for deescalation to Alert Level 1,” he said.

Asked if the adjustment means that the IATF approved the shift to Alert Level 1, as recommended by the NCR mayors, he said it would apply to all, noting that many areas also qualified for Alert Level 1 aside from the NCR.

“The guidelines will apply to all places which will be deescalated to Alert Level 1, “ he said.

“Not necessarily, not NCR alone, because I think there are also a lot of places that qualify to deescalation to Alert Level 1,” he added.

But Artes clarified: “There would still be minimum public health standards and protocols in place. Under Alert Level 1, it is not that all the restrictions will be lifted, there would still be restrictions.” 

“All possible restrictions under Alert Level 1 will be discussed by the technical working group for submission to the IATF,” he added.

Under Alert Level 1, intrazonal and interzonal travel shall be allowed without regard to age and comorbidities. All establishments, persons, or activities, are allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it is consistent with minimum public health standards. —LBG, GMA News