IATF: Alert Level 2 up over Benguet, 25 other areas until April 30

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) on Sunday said it has placed Benguet and 25 other areas under Alert Level 2 from April 15 to 30, 2023 as part of the COVID-19 response.

The areas under Alert Level 2 are:

1. Benguet;
2. Ifugao;
3. Quezon Province;
4. Palawan;
5. Camarines Norte;
6. Masbate;
7. Antique;
8. Negros Occidental;
9. Bohol;
10. Cebu Province;
11. Negros Oriental;
12. Leyte;
13. Western Samar;
14. Lanao del Norte;
15. Davao de Oro;
16. Davao del Norte;
17. Davao del Sur;
18. Davao Occidental;
19. North Cotabato;
20. Sarangani;
21. Sultan Kudarat;
22. Dinagat Islands;
23. Basilan;
24. Maguindanao;
25. Sulu; and
26. Tawi-Tawi

In a statement later on Sunday, however, the Department of Health—which leads the IATF—clarified that the alert level for these 26 provinces and cities were not escalated from Alert Level 1.

 "[R]ather, these have maintained their Alert Level 2 status since June 2022," the DOH said.

"While these areas have reached low risk classifications for cases and utilization rates, these have vaccination rates lower than 70% of the target total and population and/or 70% of the total A2 population (senior citizens). Meeting these targets will allow these areas to be de-escalated to Alert Level 1.

"Also, no province or city has been escalated to Alert Level 2 from Alert Level 1 since January 2023," it added.

Under Alert Level 2, certain establishments and activities are allowed at 50% capacity indoors for fully vaccinated adults (and minors, even if unvaccinated), and 70% capacity outdoors.

Alert Level 1

Meanwhile, the IATF said Alert Level 1 is in effect until April 30 over the following areas:

NCR

• Caloocan City
• Malabon City
• Navotas City
• Valenzuela City
• Pateros
• Pasig City
• Marikina City
• Taguig City
• Quezon City
• Manila
• Makati City
• Mandaluyong City
• San Juan City
• Muntinlupa City
• Paranaque City
• Las Pinas City
• Pasay City

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

• Abra
• Apayao
• Baguio City
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Benguet: Buguias, Sablan, and Tublay
• Ifugao: Alfonso Lista (Potia), Kiangan, Lagawe (Capital), Lamut

Region I

• Dagupan City
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan

Region II

• Batanes
• Cagayan
• City of Santiago
• Isabela
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Quirino

Region III

• Angeles City
• Aurora
• Bataan
• Bulacan
• Nueva Ecija
• Olongapo City
• Pampanga
• Tarlac
• Zambales

Region IV-A

• Batangas
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Lucena City
• Rizal
• Quezon: Alabat, Atimonan, Candelaria, City of Tayabas, Dolores, Gumaca, Lucban, Mauban, Padre Burgos, Pagbilao, Perez, Plaridel, Polillo, Quezon, Sampaloc, San Antonio, Sariaya, Tiaong, Unisan

Region IV-B

• Marinduque
• Occidental Mindoro
• Oriental Mindoro
• Puerto Princesa City
• Romblon
• Palawan: Cagayancillo, Culion, El Nido (Bacuit), Kalayaan

Region V

• Albay
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Naga City
• Sorsogon
• Camarines Norte: Basud, Capalonga, Daet (Capital), San Vicente, Talisay
• Masbate: Balud, Batuan, City of Masbate (Capital), Mandaon, Milagros, San Fernando

Region VI

• Aklan
• Bacolod City
• Capiz
• Guimaras
• Iloilo Province
• Iloilo City
• Antique: Anini-y, Barbaza, San Jose (Capital), Sebaste, Tobias Fornier (Dao)
• Negros Occidental: Cadiz City, Candoni, City of Himamaylan, City of Talisay, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona (Saravia), Ilog, La Carlota City, Murcia, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Sagay City, San Enrique, Silay City, Valladolid

Region VII

• Cebu City
• Lapu-Lapu City
• Mandaue City
• Siquijor
• Bohol: Alburquerque, Balilihan, Batuan, Calape, Corella, Dimiao, Duero, Garcia Hernandez, Jagna, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Maribojoc, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia (Pitogo), San Isidro, San Miguel, Sevilla, Sikatuna, Tagbilaran City (Capital)
• Cebu: Alboy, Borbon, City of Naga, City of Talisay, Oslob, Pilar, Poro, Santander, Tudela
• Negros Oriental: Amlan (Ayuquitan), Bacong, Dauin, Dumaguete City (Capital), Valencia (Luzurriaga), Zamboanguita

Region VIII

• Biliran
• Eastern Samar
• Northern Samar
• Ormoc City
• Southern Leyte
• Tacloban City
• Leyte: Abuyog, Albuera, Bato, Barugo, City of Baybay, Dulag, Hindang, Inopacan, Javier (Bugho), La Paz, Leyte, Matag-ob, Matalom, Palo, Pastrana, Tabontabon, Tunga, Villaba
• Samar (Western Samar): City of Catbalogan (Capital), Marabut, Motiong, Pagsanghan, Paranas (Wright), San Sebastian, Talalora, Tarangnan, Zumarraga

Region IX

• City of Isabela
• Zamboanga City
• Zamboanga del Norte
• Zamboanga del Sur
• Zamboanga Sibugay

Region X

• Bukidnon
• Cagayan de Oro City
• Camiguin
• Iligan City
• Misamis Occidental
• Misamis Oriental
• Lanao del Norte: Bacolod, Baroy, Kauswagan, Kolambugan, Lala, Linamon, Tubod (Capital)

Region XI

• Davao City
• Davao Oriental
• Davao de Oro: Mawab, Montevista, Nabunturan (Capital), New Bataan
• Davao del Norte: Braulio E. Dujali, Island Garden City of Samal, Santo Tomas
• Davao del Sur: Padada
• Davao Occidental: Don Marcelino, Malita, Santa Maria

Region XII

• General Santos City
• South Cotabato
• Cotabato (North Cotabato): Antipas, Arakan, City of Kidapawan (Capital), Kabacan, President Roxas
• Sarangani: Maitum
• Sultan Kudarat: Bagumbayan, City of Tacurong, Kalamansig, Lebak, President Quirino

Caraga

• Butuan City
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• Dinagat Islands: Cagdianao, Dinagat, Libjo (Albor), Loreto, Tubajon

Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)

• Cotabato City
• Lanao del Sur
• Maguindanao: South Upi, Upi
• Sulu: Hadji Panglima Tahil (Marunggas)
• Tawi-Tawi: Turtle Islands

Under Alert Level 1—the lowest in the alert level system—intrazonal and interzonal travel shall be allowed without regard to age and comorbidities.

All establishments, persons, or activities, are allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it is consistent with minimum public health standards.

The IATF resolution was approved on April 14 and signed by IATF Chairperson and Department of Health Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire and IATF Co-Chairperson and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos. —KG/BM, GMA Integrated News