More businesses may soon be allowed to operate following the approval of President Duterte to downgrade the National Capital Region’s (NCR) Alert Level (AL) from 4 to 3.
The office of Presidential spokesman Harry Roque confirmed on Wednesday early evening that new AL and community quarantine classifications, which were earlier recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), were approved by Duterte through Executive Order 112.
In a news statement, Roque said the IATF sought NCR’s AL adjustment downgrade from AL 4 to AL 3, which is expected to take effect from October 16 to 31, 2021.
Under the guidelines issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for Alert Level 3, venue capacity for indoor dine-in services will be expanded to 30 percent, while al fresco dining would be placed at full 100 percent capacity.
Also to be allowed to resume operation under AL 3 with 30 percent venue capacity are indoor tourist attractions; meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions; social events; gaming establishments; indoor recreational activities and personal care services.
Only NCR for now will be implementing the new AL since the IATF opted to impose the community quarantine classification in other parts of the country.
Roque said the IATF decided to implement modified enhanced community quarantine in Apayao, Kalinga, Batanes, Bulacan, Bataan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, and Naga City for Luzon; and Zamboanga City and Zamboanga del Norte for Mindanao.
Meanwhile, a general community quarantine with heightened restrictions will take effect in Abra, Baguio City, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, City of Santiago, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Quezon, and Batangas for Luzon; Bacolod City, Capiz, Lapu-Lapu City, Negros Oriental, and Bohol for the Visayas; and Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental, Davao de Oro, Butuan City, and Surigao del Sur for Mindanao.
The IATF also placed the following areas under general community quarantine: Ilocos Norte, Dagupan City, Ifugao, Benguet, Tarlac, Lucena City, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Puerto Princesa, Marinduque, Albay, and Camarines Norte for Luzon; Aklan, Antique, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Iloilo City, Iloilo Province, Cebu City, Cebu Province, Mandaue City, Siquijor, and Tacloban City for the Visayas; and Zamboanga Sibugay, Misamis Occidental, Iligan City, Davao City, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, General Santos City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Cotabato City, and Lanao del Sur for Mindanao.
All other areas shall be placed under modified general community quarantine.
“This latest risk-level classification shall take effect beginning October 16, 2021 until October 31, 2021,” Roque said.