Metro Manila will serve as the pilot testing area for granular or local lockdowns starting Sept. 8 as the country moves towards the removal of regional or province-wide community quarantines.
The move has raised several questions on mobility as well as the new rules that would be implemented: who can go outside, and what people can and cannot do.
First things first, the shift to granular lockdowns is only for testing so far, and not yet for implementation nationwide according to MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos.
"Ito'y pilot lamang kasi mahirap ipatupad kaagad baka hindi maganda so ang ginawang pilot ay Metro Manila. Kung ito ay maging successful pwede na rin gawin sa buong Pilipinas," Abalos said in an interview on dzBB on Monday morning.
Here's how the pilot testing of granular lockdowns is expected to work so far according to Abalos:
Step 1: The DOH will identify the COVID-19 alert level for a certain area.
Four alert levels will be implemented. The Department of Health will consider mainly three factors in determining the alert level for each area. These are:
- COVID-19 infection rate
- COVID-19 variants
- Hospital utilization rate and medical care capacity
The four alert levels will serve as a guide to determine the operating capacity of the following types of industries:
- Close-contact establishments: barbershops, salons, nail salons, spas, massage parlors, and the like
- Crowded establishments: churches and other places of worships, convention centers, exhibitions, and the like
- Closed-area establishments: indoor dining areas
The alert levels are as follows:
- Alert Level 1: most relaxed where all types of establishments are generally allowed to operate
- Alert Level 2: 50% operational capacity
- Alert Level 3: up to 30% capacity
- Alert Level 4: prohibited from operating
Step 2: Mayors will be informed of the alert level so they can decide.
Based on the alert level, mayors are given the choice to implement a street-wide, barangay-wide, or municipal or city-wide lockdown.
"Para may flexibility sa bawat lugar. Depende yan sa mga Mayor kung gagawin nilang buong Metro Manila o per city," Abalos said.
Step 3: Mayors will discuss whether rules will be synchronized among LGUs for mobility purposes.
Once mayors have studied their alert levels, they will discuss if there is a need to synchronize with other local government units for "flexibility," Abalos said.
"Mag-uusap po kami ng mga mayor kung buong NCR gagawin namin ito pare-pareho... This gives more flexibility," he said.
The pilot testing will run for two weeks afterward it would be reviewed for changes and improvements according to Abalos.
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