Filipinos head to malls on first day of Alert Level 1 in NCR

Families flocked to malls as the National Capital Region (NCR) shifted to Alert Level 1 — the least restrictive of the government's five-tier COVID-19 protocol — on Tuesday. 

A mall in Quezon City, for instance, was packed with shoppers, including children, according to Joseph Morong's report on "24 Oras."

This made store employees like Maricel Agabao happy, as they now expect more manpower and income as a result of the steady increase in customers.

"Siyempre mas nadadagdagan 'yung customer, mas kailangan namin ng manpower. Madadagdagan naman ng pasok yung manpower kasi kung dati dalawa lang, puwede kaming magdagdag ng isa, magiging tatlo na," she said.

(We'll need extra people to handle the influx of new customers. We can now have three employees instead of two.)

Francisco Mandac said he was not worried about taking his grandchildren to the mall, who had traveled all the way from Ilocos, because they had already been vaccinated.

John Ray Parojinog, who brought his one-year-old child, shared the same sentiment.

"My worries have eased now that children are being vaccinated," he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

"I feel free. Para kang nakawala sa hawla (It's like you've escaped from a cage)," added Dulce Dapito, 67.

Another shopper, though, reminded that adhering to the minimum public health standards is essential.

"[Wear] mask, [use] alcohol, [practice] social distancing," she said.

The mall, meanwhile, extended its operating hours in light of the imposition of Alert Level 1.

"We've already seen an increase in foot traffic, around 20% to 30%, but with Alert Level 1, we are expecting to double that," Eastwood City general manager Denisse Malong said.

Under Alert Level 1, intrazonal and interzonal travel shall be allowed without regard to age and comorbidities.

All establishments, people, or activities are permitted to operate, work, or engage in activities at full on-site or venue/seating capacity as long as they meet minimum public health standards.

Aside from the NCR, more than 30 areas across the country were also placed under Alert Level 1 from March 1 to 15. — VBL, GMA News