Negros Occidental, Baguio seek Alert Level 2 extension

MANILA, Philippines — With many areas expected to be downgraded to Alert Level 1 starting March 1, Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong prefer that their jurisdictions remain under Alert Level 2.

“I always like to remain cautious, especially during a campaign period,” Lacson said.

He said COVID cases in Negros Occidental are going down, but these can go up any time “if we don’t take care of ourselves.”

Active cases in the province dropped to 522 as of Thursday, according to the Provincial Incident Management Team.

Magalong said he would not recommend a downgrade of the alert level in Baguio to avoid a ”COVID relapse.”

”While we are now in the process of gradually transitioning to the new normal phase, we do not want to rush it,” he said. ”We are easing up our protocols but still need to retain certain public health restrictions to sustain our momentum. So huwag muna.”

Magalong said he is also against scrapping alert level classifications until safety measures are in place.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is expected to issue new alert level classifications for March. – Artemio Dumlao