'DAHAN-DAHAN'

DTI favors gradual shift to Alert Level 1

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Wednesday backed the calls to downgrade the quarantine status of the country to Alert Level 1 to open more businesses and jobs amid the decreasing number of new COVID-19 infections.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said should the country shifts to Alert Level 1, which is the lowest in the alert level system, it has to be done slowly as there is still the lingering threat of COVID-19.

“Kung mag Alert Level 1 tayo, na gusto din ni (DTI) Sec. Mon (Lopez) na mangyari pero dahan-dahan lang, nandiyan pa rin ‘yung virus. So, kailangan pa rin nating sundin lahat ng health protocols,” she said.

(If we shift to Alert Level 1, which Sec. Mon wants to happen, it should be done slowly because the virus is still there. So, we still need to follow all the health protocols.)

Currently, the National Capital Region (NCR) and several provinces are under Alert Level 2 from February 1 to 15.

Under Alert Level 2, certain establishments and activities are allowed at 50% capacity indoors for fully vaccinated adults and minors, and 70% capacity outdoors, even if unvaccinated.

Meanwhile, under Alert Level 1, all establishments, persons, or activities, are allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it follows minimum health standards. This, however, excludes areas under granular lockdown.

Castelo said about 1.5 million businesses in the country can operate at full capacity if the quarantine restrictions are further eased, thus allowing more people to return to work.

“Pagka nag-100% na, full capacity na lahat ng negosyo, lahat nung nagtatrabaho before COVID, ‘yun na din ang makakabalik ngayon,” she said.

(If the businesses are at 100% or at full capacity, all employees working before the pandemic could go back to work now.)

When several areas in the country, including the NCR, moved from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2, the DTI estimated that around 100,000 to 200,000 employees got back to work. That is an addition of almost 16,000 workers weekly, Castelo said.

Safety Seal

Castelo also emphasized that regardless of the alert status, it is still vital for establishments to present a Safety Seal certification to prove that they are compliant with the minimum public health standards set by the government, and that they integrate the staysafe.ph contact tracing app.

“Very important na may Safety Seal sila kasi ito ‘yung assurance natin as consumers, as customers na sumusunod sa protocols ‘yung establishments na pinupuntahan natin,” she said.

(It is very important that they have a Safety Seal because this is our assurance as consumers or as customers that the establishments we visit follow the health protocols.)

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Tuesday said NCR mayors may recommend to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) the downgrading of the alert status in the region if the COVID-19 cases continue to decrease.

However, vaccine expert panel member Dr. Rontgene Solante said on Monday that it is premature to put Metro Manila under Alert Level 1 after February 15, as the rate of transmission remained high despite the decreasing number of new cases daily.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday also said the government would check “safe spaces” and hospital situations to determine if the NCR can be shifted to Alert Level 1.

The Philippines on Tuesday reported 3,574 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the total tally to 3,619,633.

The new infections brought the active cases to 105,550, the lowest since January 8. —KBK, GMA News