Work from home optional under Alert Level 1, says DTI chief Lopez

Work from home arrangement will become optional in areas that will be placed under Alert Level 1 next month due to the improving COVID-19 situation in the country, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Monday.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Lopez said onsite work is "encouraged" under Alert Level 1.

"Ie-encourage 'yung onsite work [under Alert Level 1], ibig sabihin less na yung work from home, magiging optional na yung work from home," he said.

(Onsite work is encouraged under Alert Level 1, which means there'd be less work from home arrangements. Work from home will become optional.)

Lopez said this is expected to boost businesses like stores and restaurants as more people will be going out of their homes.

"Ang maganda dito kapag pumapasok na uli yung mga tao physically, nabubuhay yung mga restaurants at yung mga tindahan, yung mga stores, kasi nasa labas yung mga tao at wala na sa bahay," he said.

(What's good about this is when people are physically reporting for work, it benefits restaurants and stores.)

The National Capital Region (NCR) and several other areas in the country will be placed under Alert Level 1 from March 1 to 15, 2022, the government announced over the weekend.

Under Alert Level 1, all establishments, persons, or activities are permitted to operate at 100% capacity. Vaccination requirement, however, will stay for indoor activities, according to Lopez.

"Magbubukas ang ekonomiya but less ang restrictions [The economy will open but there will be less restrictions]," Lopez said.

Requirements for intrazonal and interzonal travels will also be lessened, the Trade chief said.

"Wala na yung requirement na RT-PCR [test], yung mga PNP clearance. Pero malaking bagay pa rin yung vaccination card," Lopez said.

(Requirements like RT-PCR and PNP clearance will be removed but vaccination cards will still be needed.)  —KBK, GMA News