IATF puts NCR, 7 provinces under AL2 from Feb. 1-15

METRO Manila and seven other provinces are to be placed under Alert Level 2 from February 1 to 15.

Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) Cochair and Acting Palace Spokesman Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced on Sunday that the IATF has placed Batanes, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Southern Leyte, Biliran and Basilan under Alert Level 2.

Metro Manila was previously under the stricter mobility restriction at Alert Level 3 following the surge in Covid-19 cases earlier this month.

Under Alert Level 2, intrazonal and interzonal travel shall be allowed subject to reasonable restrictions based on age and comorbidities as may be determined by the local government units.

Those below 18 years old and those belonging to vulnerable populations shall also be allowed access to obtain existing essential goods and services, or for work in permitted industries and offices. Individual outdoor exercises shall be allowed for all ages regardless of comorbidities or vaccination status.

Government agencies shall remain to be fully operational and shall adhere to at least 50 percent on-site capacity while applying work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements.

Meanwhile, the IATF also placed several cities and provinces under Alert Level 3 for the same period.

These are:

■ Cordillera Administrative Region: Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Kalinga and Mountain Province;

■ Region I: Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan;

■ Region II: City of Santiago, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino;

■ Region III: Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales;

■ Region IV-A: Batangas, Laguna, Lucena City and Quezon Province;

■ Region IV-B: Marinduque, Romblon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro and Puerto Princesa City;

■ Region V: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Naga City and Sorsogon.

■ Region VI: Aklan, Antique, Bacolod City, Capiz, Iloilo City, Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Guimaras;

■ Region VII: Cebu City, Lapulapu City, Mandaue City, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor; and

■ Region VIII: Ormoc City, Tacloban City, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar and Western Samar.

■ Region IX: City of Isabela, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay;

■ Region X: Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental;

■ Region XI: Davao City, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental and Davao de Oro;

■ Region XII: General Santos City, North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat;

■ Region XIII: Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Butuan City; and

■ Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Maguindanao, Cotabato City and Lanao Del Sur.

Under Alert Level 3, intrazonal and interzonal travel are allowed, and those below 18 years old and those belonging to vulnerable population get access to obtain essential goods and services, or for work in permitted industries and offices. Individual outdoor exercises are allowed for all ages regardless of comorbidities or vaccination status.

However, specific establishments, or activities may operate or be undertaken only at a maximum of 30 percent indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and only 50 percent outdoor venue capacity.

Employees for these establishments should also be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and minimum public health standards shall be strictly maintained.

Government shall also remain fully operational and adhere to at least 30 percent on-site capacity while applying work-fromhome and other flexible work arrangements.

DOTR eases curbs

FOLLOWING the Palace announcement, the Department of Transportation (DOTR) said the policies limiting the mobility of unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals will be lifted.

“Once we de-escalate to Alert Level 2, the No Vaccination, No Ride policy shall automatically be lifted,” Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran said.

The policy, which took effect on January 17, essentially barred unvaccinated individuals from riding public utility vehicles while Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3 for Covid-19.

It aimed to reduce the mobility of unvaccinated individuals, which, the agency said, are more susceptible to severe infections from Covid-19.

Should the government decide to raise the alert level anew, the policy will automatically be in effect.