Duterte OKs Nationwide Rollout Of COVID Alert System

President Duterte approved on Thursday, Nov. 11, the nationwide implementation of the alert level system for COVID-19 response, citing the need to reopen more economic sectors while safeguarding public health.

The adoption of the nationwide alert level system, which will replace the community quarantine classifications, is contained in Executive Order No. 151.

“While the current community quarantine classification system under the omnibus guidelines has proven crucial in preventing the further spread of COVID-19 in the country, the cumulative impact of the prohibitions and regulations under that system on social, economic, and other non-COVID-19 health objectives cannot be overlooked,” the order read.

“The nationwide shift to the alert level system would allow for the reinvigoration of the economy through the opening of more sectors, while protecting the people’s health through the continuous observance of public health protocols and interventions and the heightened implementation of lockdowns in smaller areas, also known as granular lockdowns,” it stated.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the successful pilot implementation of the alert level system shows that it can already adopted nationwide.

“If the question is if we can roll out an alert level system nationwide, of course with varying levels, it looks like it can be done,” Lopez said during the “Laging Handa” public briefing on Thursday.

He noted that businesses, particularly restaurants and malls, have given positive feedback on Metro Manila’s recent shift to Alert Level 2 with these establishments seeing 50 to 80% of pre-pandemic foot traffic last weekend.

Lopez said the easing of restrictions and allowing businesses to operate at higher capacity would support economic growth in the fourth quarter and allow the country to post between five to 5.5% growth for 2021.

As the economy posted a 4.9% growth in the first three quarters, he said it will need to post a 5.3% growth in the last quarter to reach 5% growth for the year.

But if the country wants to hit a 5.5% growth for 2021, Lopez explained that the economy would need to expand by 7.1% during the fourth quarter.

When this happens, he stressed that the economy will need to grow 4.8% next year to recover and be back to the pre-pandemic or 2019 level.

Phased implementation

Under the old system, areas are classified under modified general community quarantine, general community quarantine, modified enhanced community quarantine, and the most stringent enhanced community quarantine.

The new system uses Alert Levels 1 to 5, with one being the most lenient, and limits lockdowns to very specific areas with COVID-19 case clusters like houses and streets.

The alert level system will be implemented in four phases with the first phase already implemented in and covering Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Davao region.

Its second phase will cover Ilocos, Eastern Visayas and Soccsksargen while the third phase will cover Cagayan, Bicol and Zamboanga Peninsula.

In the fourth phase are the Cordillera Administrative Region, Mimaropa, Caraga and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The shift to the second phase may start at any time as may be determined by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID), but not later than the end of November.

Succeeding phases will start every week thereafter until the new system is implemented nationwide.

The guidelines on the implementation of alert level systems in pilot areas, including the amendments introduced by the IATF, were also adopted and will be enforced in all areas. The IATF may amend the guidelines if necessary without the approval of the President.

Duterte also ordered all departments, agencies, government instrumentalities and local governments to assist the IATF in mobilizing resources for the implementation of the alert level system.

Given the positive outlook and with more people getting vaccinated, the Department of Health continued to caution the public against complacency as it noted that the opening of the economy increases mobility as well as the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

“This is not the right time to be complacent. We would like to remind the public that COVID-19 is still here. We cannot set aside the risk of cases increasing when mobility increases and compliance to safety protocols decreases,” the DOH said in a statement.

The agency issued the statement in reaction to the claim of business groups that people should no longer fear going out since Metro Manila is already nearing a 90% full vaccination rate.

It noted that while vaccination provides additional protection from severe COVID-19 and lead to the decongestion of hospitals, it “does not mean zero transmission.”

“Even if we are fully vaccinated, we can still get infected and infect others with COVID-19. The permeable nature of areas in the country combined with inter-zonal work assignments makes the NCR and other areas of the country vulnerable to forward transmission of COVID-19,” the DOH pointed out.

It reminded the public to be mindful and considerate of other regions especially with the need to increase vaccine coverage nationally among senior citizens and those with underlying conditions.

A total of 4.9 million senior citizens and 7.6 million persons with underlying conditions are now fully vaccinated. – With Louella Desiderio, Mayen Jaymalin