Push for Alert Level 1 in NCR unrelated to polls —MMDA exec

Metro Manila mayors' move to de-escalate the National Capital Region to Alert Level 1 has nothing to do with the elections and the ongoing political campaigns, an official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Wednesday.

At a press conference, MMDA  officer-in-charge and general manager Romando Artes pointed out that the mayors based their recommendation on COVID-19 data in the region.

“Wala naman pong kaugnayan ito (There is no connection with the elections),” Artes when asked if the recommendation has something to do with the elections and campaign.

“Ang basehan lang po ng Metro Manila mayors dito ay ‘yung datos po na nakukuha namin sa Department of Health-NCR na nagpapakita naman na bumababa ang kaso natin…Wala pong kinalaman ang eleksyon dito,” he added.

(The only basis of Metro Manila mayors here is the data that we are getting from the Department of Health-NCR, which showed that COVID-19 cases continue to decline.)

NCR mayors have agreed to recommend the de-escalation of the region's status to Alert Level 1 from Alert Level 2 starting March 1, 2022.

Earlier, some camps of candidates called on the Commission on Elections to adjust the restrictions on in-person campaigning.

Earlier, the proposal to de-escalate NCR's alert level drew the attention of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) as minimum health protocols might be ignored during election campaign rallies. —LBG, GMA News