The Palace said more than P9 billion worth of economic activity will be added per week as Metro Manila and 38 other areas in the country shift to COVID-19 Alert Level 1 starting today.
From March 1 to March 15, the National Capital Region and the other areas were downgraded to Alert Level 1 as COVID-19 infections continue to decline.
“We expect an additional P9.4 billion worth in economic activity per week and 170,000 fewer unemployed individuals in the next three months if we will continue to be under Alert Level 1,” Palace spokesman Karlo Nograles said in a press briefing.
All government and private workplaces can now operate at full capacity after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved amendments to the guidelines on Alert Level 1, Malacanang said.
Nograles, however, said that some protocols, such as wearing face masks at all times, must still be observed under Alert Level 1.
“Wearing of face masks is still required outdoors or in indoor private or public establishments, including in public transportation by land, air or sea, except when eating and drinking, participating in team and individual sports in venues where ventilation standards can be maintained, and practicing outdoor sports/exercise activities where physical distance can be maintained,” Nograles said.
The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) welcomed the transition of Metro Manila and other regions to Alert Level 1, which marks the start of the “new normal.”
“Allowing people to return to their offices and workplaces will benefit more than just the economy. It will also address mental health issues caused by prolonged isolation and a lack of regular face-to-face interactions. Alert Level 1 also indicates that we are prepared to live with the virus by treating it as endemic,” the MAP said.
“We note that the guidelines allow businesses to choose the best work arrangement for them, whether working from home, on-site, or a hybrid of the two. We must recognize the undeniable benefits of a hybrid setup in terms of cost savings, reduced need for home-office travel, and improved quality of life for people, such as working mothers. We believe that the hybrid work model is one of the pandemic’s positive lessons,” the group said.
“We hope that schools will follow suit and return to full face-to-face learning as our children’s education has suffered greatly as a result of the pandemic,” it said.
Nograles said employers may continue to provide flexible and alternative work arrangements as deemed appropriate based on function or individual risk.
Meanwhile, people 18 years old and above will be required to present proof of full vaccination before participating in mass gatherings or entry into indoor establishments.
Children ages 17 and below will not be required to present proof of vaccination.
Agencies and instrumentalities of the government will also adhere to 100 percent on-site workforce.
Off-site work will be under such work arrangements subject to relevant rules and regulations issued by the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the President.
On the other hand, public transportation in areas under Alert Level 1 will be at full seating capacity.
Under Alert Level 1, establishments are no longer required to set up isolation facilities within the workplace.
On treatment, close contacts, asymptomatic confirmed cases, and mild to moderate confirmed cases will be managed at the primary care level, such as health centers, private clinics through face-to-face or teleconsultation, while confirmed cases with severe and critical symptoms will be managed in the appropriate health care facility.
In the case of reintegration, isolation can be discontinued upon completion of the recommended isolation period, provided they do not have a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of any antipyretic medications and will have improvement of respiratory signs and symptoms.
The Palace also expressed confidence that COVID-19 infections will soon come to an end, as more people are willing to get vaccinated
against the virus to achieve herd immunity by the year’s end.
“We are reaping the rewards of collective action. It is collective action that has resulted in more than just restrictions in our daily lives, it also means reduced restrictions that will contribute to more livelihood opportunities and better incomes for many of our countrymen,” Nograles said.
But the spokesman reminded the public not to be complacent because the virus is still there and might spread again if people disregard the government’s health protocols such as wearing of face masks and frequent hand washing.
“We still need to be responsible for ourselves, our families, and for our communities,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has ordered the termination of work from home arrangements for its officials and employees, as well as in the Court of Tax Appeals, Sandiganbayan, and the Court of Appeals after Metro Manila and other areas were placed under Alert Level 1.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said the on-site working capacity in the Supreme Court will be 100 percent of the entire workforce of all offices except those with limited office spaces, which will be 80 percent of the entire workforce.
The office hours at the Supreme Court would be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. On the other hand, the justices are allowed to
determine the number and schedule of their staff who will be required for work on-site in their respective chambers.
The Court reminded those reporting for work that their health condition will be thoroughly checked upon entering the premises.
“They must not have even the slightest symptoms. They shall be monitored from time to time to ensure that they strictly observe all health and safety protocols, and that they remain to have no symptoms of COVID-19 infections,” the top magistrate said.
All hearings in the Sandiganbayan will be fully conducted in court but only parties, their counsels, witnesses, and other persons authorized by the court will be allowed entry to the courtroom provided that they are able to show proof of vaccination.
Lawyers, parties, witnesses, and court users who are not fully vaccinated or are not able to present proof of vaccination will be required to present a negative antigen or RT-PCR test result taken 48 hours before they enter the Sandiganbayan.
All officials and employees of the CTA are also required to report five times a week as work-from-home arrangements have been discontinued.
The Court of Appeals (CA) has also announced that it would be operating in full on-site capacity.
The appellate court would also require court officials and employees to undergo antigen testing once a month. It added that raffles and hearings are to be conducted on-site, unless prior approval to conduct official business via videoconferencing is secured from Presiding Justice Remedios Salazar-Fernando.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said it would ask for a reconsideration of a decision of the Fiscal Incentives Review Board to end work-from-home arrangements.
PEZA Director General Charito Plaza said they wanted to extend WFH until September on behalf of the Information Technology and Business
Process Management (ITBPM) industry composed mostly of data centers and call centers.
Also on Monday, the Department of Transportation said passenger capacity in MRT3 will be raised to 100 percent starting March 1 as Metro Manila downgraded to Alert Level 1.
The agency said an additional 394 passengers per light rail vehicle (LRV) or 1,182 passengers per train set will be added in the MRT-3 capacity.
The DOTr also reminded passengers that minimum public health standards will be implemented and talking, eating, drinking, and answering phone calls are prohibited inside the trains.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat, meanwhile, said airlines are also now allowed to operate at 100 percent carrying capacity.
With the lowering of COVID-19 restrictions to the most basic level in the National Capital Region (NCR) and various areas across the country
to Alert Level 1, the Department of Tourism expects travel and tourism activities to return to vibrant times, one step at a time.
Puyat said it will take a while before the country’s tourism industry returns to pre-pandemic levels “but our stakeholders and myself, are
happy that we are now starting over.”