The national government released the guidelines on September 13, 2021, for the “Pilot Implementation of Alert Level Systems for COVID-19 Response in the National Capital Region” which will begin on September 16 until September 30, 2021.
The COVID-19 Alert Level Systems is the new Community Quarantine Classification which is stricter and more focused on areas with alarming COVID-19 cases.
According to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), this is to manage and minimize the risk of further spread of the virus.
There will be 5 Alert Levels that coincides with numbers and will all have different protocols. The Local Government Units (LGUs) of cities and municipalities are given the authority to impose an immediate granular lockdown on ‘component barangays’ under their jurisdiction but should be in concurrence with the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF).
“Declaration of granular lockdowns by local chief executives shall be provisionally
effective immediately and shall include due notice to the RIATF. The RIATF shall
immediately act on the said declaration…” on Part II Section 4.
Areas that can be placed under lockdowns are “individual houses where one household member has been confirmed, residential buildings, streets, blocks, puroks, subdivisions, and/or villages within their jurisdiction.”
The parameters in declaring an area under lockdown will follow the previous Memorandum Circular No. 2 by the National Task Force COVID-19.
A granular lockdown imposed in an area will last for at least 14 days.
Who is allowed movement in areas under granular lockdown? Under what conditions?
Part II Section 6, explicitly states that only health care workers (HCW) and non-health personnel are allowed of an area under granular lockdown.
In addition, OFWs both returning and leaving the country and individuals seeking medical attention will be exempted.
Individuals returning to their homes or residences that are included in the lockdown area will be allowed but will have to remain for the duration of it.
Food and essential items for delivery “within an area under granular lockdown provided that they can only be unloaded at the border collection points…”
The APORs, unlike in the previous IATF Omnibus Guidelines, are not excluded in the movement restriction.
Those affected by the lockdowns shall also receive assistance from their respective LGUs and DSWD.
The national government will be implementing the trial phase in the NCR region. And if successful, will be applied throughout the country hence eliminating the previous community quarantine classifications.
Meanwhile, on Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque’s Press Briefing today, September 14, 2021, he announced that Metro Manila will be on Alert Level 4 “refers to areas wherein case counts are high and/or increasing, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at high utilization.” Shorter curfew hours will also be implemented which is from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM from September 16 to September 30, 2021.
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