The government is now closer to achieving its goal of implementing a “new normal” policy as more parts of the country are now under Alert Level (AL) 1.
On Thursday, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) updated the alert level system (ALS) list, which now includes over 100 provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities under AL 1.
This was considerably higher compared to 48 AL 1 areas on its previous list, which took effect during the second half of March.
Acting Presidential spokesman Martin M. Andanar said the new ALs will take effect from April 1 to 15, 2022.
An area is placed under Alert Level 1 if 70 percent of its target population and 80 percent of its senior citizens are already fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Public and private establishments as well as public utility vehicles (PUV) in the said areas will be allowed to operate at full capacity.
Under the updated ALS list the following areas will be under Alert Level 1: National Capital Region; Cordillera Administrative Region: Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, and Baguio City; Region 1: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, and Dagupan City; Region 2: Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, City of Santiago, and Quirino; Region 3: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Angeles City, Tarlac, Zambales, and Olongapo City; Region 4A: Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Lucena City; Region 4B: Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Puerto Princesa City; Region 5: Albay, Catanduanes, and Naga City; Region 6: Aklan, Guimaras, Capiz, Bacolod City, and Iloilo City; Region 7: Siquijor, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City; Region 8: Biliran, Ormoc City, and Tacloban City; Region 9: Zamboanga City; Region 10: Camiguin, Bukidnon, Iligan City, and Cagayan de Oro City; Region 11: Davao City; Region 13 (Caraga): Surigao del Sur, Surigao City, and Butuan City.
Also placed under AL 1 are the following component cities and municipalities.
Cordillera Administrative Region: Ifugao (Lagawe, Lamut), Mountain Province (Besao, Bontoc, Sagada); Region 2: Nueva Vizcaya (Bambang, Bayombong, Dupax del Norte, Quezon, Solano, Villaverde); Region 4A: Quezon (City of Tayabas, Lucban, Mauban, Pagbilao, Plaridel, Polillo, Quezon, Sampaloc); Region 4B: Occidental Mindoro (Lubang), Palawan (Culion); Region 5: Camarines Norte (Daet, San Vicente), Camarines Sur (Bombon, Cabusao, Camaligan, Iriga City, Presentacion (Parubcan), San Fernando), Sorsogon (Barcelona, Bulusan, Casiguran, City of Sorsogon, Gubat, Juban, Magallanes, Prieto Diaz); Region 6: Antique (San Jose, Sebaste), Iloilo (Anilao, Balasan, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Barotac Viejo, Bingawan, Concepcion, Dueñas, Guimbal, Janiuay, Lemery, Mina, Pototan, San Dioniso, Santa Barbara), and Negros Occidental (Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia), La Carlota City, Pulupandan, Sagay City, San Enrique).
Other Alert Level 1 areas are Region 7: Bohol (Batuan, Corella, Dimiao, Jagna, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Sikatuna, Tagbilaran City), Negros Oriental (Dumaguete City); Region 8: Eastern Samar (Arteche, Balangkayan, Can-Avid, City of Borongan, Jipapad, Maydolong, Salcedo, San Policarpo, Sulat, Taft) Leyte (Albuera, City of Baybay, Dulag, Matag-Ob, Palo, Tunga); Northern Samar (Capul, Lapinig, Lavezares, San Antonio, San Jose, Victoria), Samar (Western Samar, Marabut, Pagsanghan), Southern Leyte;
(Anahawan, City of Maasin, Hinundayan, Libagon, Limasawa, Macrohon, Padre Burgos, Pintuyan); Region 9: Zamboanga del Norte (Dapitan City, Dipolog City, Piñan (New Piñan), Polanco, Rizal), Zamboanga Sibugay (Ipil (Capital), Tungawan); Region 10: Lanao del Norte (Bacolod); Misamis Occidental (Clarin, Jimenez, Ozamiz City, Panaon), Misamis Oriental (Alubijid, Binuangan, City of El Salvador, Initao, Laguindingan, Libertad, Lugait, Naawan, Sugbongcogon, Tagoloan); Region 11: Davao de Oro (Montevista), Davao Oriental (Cateel, City of Mati); Region 12: Cotabato (North Cotabato, City of Kidapawan, President Roxas), South Cotabato (Polomolok, Santo Niño), Sultan Kudarat (City of Tacurong); Caraga: Agusan del Norte (Carmen, Jabonga, Magallanes, Nasipit), Agusan del Sur (Bunawan, Loreto, Prosperidad), Dinagat Islands (Loreto), and Surigao del Norte (Tagana-an).
Areas not included on the AL1 list will be under AL2 classification instead.
The Department of Health (DOH) earlier said it will only recommend placing the country under Alert Level 0 or the so-called “new normal” once the entire country is placed under Alert Level 1.
Image credits: Stephanie Tumampos