THE Health department said Monday the National Capital Region (NCR) and 72 other areas will remain under Alert Level 1 from November 1 to November 15.
The Department of Health in a statement said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. approved the new COVID-19 Alert Level System (ALS) classifications for provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities for the given period.
Based on the recently approved ALS classifications, a total of 89 (74%) out of 121 provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities and 192 (29%) out of 669 other component cities and municipalities are under Alert Level 1.
LUZON
The entire National Capital Region
Cordillera Administrative Region
Abra
Apayao
Baguio City
Mountain Province
Kalinga
Region I
Dagupan City
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Sur
La Union
Pangasinan
Region II
Batanes
Cagayan
City of Santiago
Isabela
Nueva Vizcaya
Quirino
Region III
Angeles City
Aurora
Bataan
Bulacan
Nueva Ecija
Olongapo City
Pampanga
Tarlac
Zambales
Region IV-A
Batangas
Cavite
Laguna
Lucena City
Rizal
Region IV-B
Marinduque
Occidental Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro
Puerto Princesa City
Romblon
Region V
Albay
Camarines Sur
Catanduanes
Naga City
Sorsogon
VISAYAS
Region VI
Aklan
Bacolod City
Capiz
Guimaras
Iloilo City
Iloilo
Region VII
Cebu City
Lapu-Lapu City
Mandaue City
Siquijor
Region VIII
Biliran
Eastern Samar
Ormoc City
Southern Leyte
Tacloban City
MINDANAO
Region IX
Zamboanga City
Zamboanga del Norte
Region X
Bukidnon
Cagayan de Oro City
Camiguin
Iligan City
Misamis Occidental
Misamis Oriental
Region XI
Davao City
Davao Oriental
Region XII
General Santos City
South Cotabato
Region XIII (Caraga)
Agusan del Norte
Agusan del Sur
Butuan City
Surigao del Sur
BARMM
Cotabato City
Under Alert Level 1—the lowest in the alert level system—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.
Meanwhile, the following 32 provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities are under Alert Level 2:
LUZON
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
Benguet
Ifugao
Region IV-A
Quezon Province
Region IV-B
Palawan
Region V
Camarines Norte
Masbate
VISAYAS
Region VI
Antique
Negros Occidental
Region VII
Bohol
Cebu Province
Negros Oriental
Region VIII
Leyte
Northern Samar
Western Samar
MINDANAO
Region IX
City of Isabela
Zamboanga Del Sur
Zamboanga Sibugay
Region X
Lanao del Norte
Region XI
Davao De Oro
Davao Del Norte
Davao Del Sur
Davao Occidental
Region XII
North Cotabato
Sarangani
Sultan Kudarat
Region XIII (Caraga)
Dinagat Islands
Surigao del Norte
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)
Basilan
Lanao Del Sur
Maguindanao
Sulu
Tawi-tawi
Under Alert Level 2, certain establishments and activities are allowed at 50% capacity indoors for fully vaccinated adults (and minors, even if unvaccinated), and 70% capacity outdoors.
With the new ALS, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the country’s key indicators, like the healthcare utilization rate (HCUR), “are showing improvements.”
“But while we see a continuous decline in case and admission trends, we must remember that deescalation does not mean that the battle with COVID-19 is already over. These current numbers are not permanent; we must all work together to maintain these low numbers,” she said.
The Health Department also stressed the need for increased vigilance and stricter implementation of measures and policies against COVID-19, especially that the holiday season is coming and mobility and contact rates are expected to rise.
Despite the national government approving the relaxation of the mask mandate in indoor and outdoor spaces, Vergeire called on the local government units to intensify the implementation of strategies and policies against COVID-19 and other diseases, such as vaccination, isolation, distancing, and ventilation.
“Ngayong patuloy nating tinatanggal ang ating mga restrictions upang makatulong sa ating ekonomiya, mas lumalaki ang responsibilidad ng ating mga lokal na pamahalaan na siguruhing mananatiling mababa ang mga kaso sa kanilang mga lugar, lalo na ngayong Undas at paparating na Pasko kung saan inaasahan ang pagdagsa ng mga tao,” she said.
