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Alert level downgrade seen to boost retail industry 

THE decision to place Metro Manila and other areas under Alert Level 2 is seen to boost the retail sector, according to industry groups on Tuesday.

Steven T. Cua, Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association (Pagasa) president, said in a mobile phone message that greater mobility under the eased alert level “breeds business and consumer confidence.”

“Consumers who are able to move around more freely under an Alert Level 2 are able to spend and spread their income in building a stronger economy,” Mr. Cua said.

“Retail shops like supermarkets bank on walk-in customers and foot traffic to stay afloat,” he added.

Malacañang placed Metro Manila — along with Batanes, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Biliran, Southern Leyte, and Basilan — under Alert Level 2 from Feb. 1 to 15. Metro Manila was previously under the stricter Alert Level 3 after a surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

Under Alert Level 2, businesses are allowed to operate at 50% indoor capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and 70% capacity for outdoor venues.

Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) Vice-Chairman Roberto S. Claudio said in an e-mail interview that increased mobility under Alert Level 2 will benefit the retail industry.

“Allowing people to go out and increasing transport mobility will benefit the retail industry. We hope we continue to improve with our COVID-19 situation,” Mr. Claudio said.

Makati Business Club Executive Director Francisco “Coco” Alcuaz, Jr. said in a mobile phone message that the shift to Alert Level 2 also bodes well for businesses.

“The business sector welcomes the latest reopening of the economy so that businesses and consumers can be more active, helping preserve and even create jobs,” Mr. Alcuaz said.

Meanwhile, PRA’s Mr. Claudio said proposals to remove the current alert level system will also benefit the retail industry. He said the move should be part of the “pandemic exit plan” and should bring confidence to consumers in resuming their activities, which will be beneficial to the retail industry.

Pagasa’s Mr. Cua said the country should begin to open up its economy, but this should be done gradually and with caution.

“Practicable optimism mixed with discipline is the next vaccine we all need to take on the road to economic recovery,” Mr. Cua said.

On Monday, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said that it would study proposals to remove the alert level system as part of a so-called pandemic exit plan.

Similarly, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria “Joey” A. Concepcion III projected that the country could remove the alert level system, which was implemented in September last year, by around March or April. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Arts & Culture (02/02/2022)

Philstage conducts audience survey

THIS year, some theatrical institutions and companies are planning to stage live performances with an audience. After two years without live performances because of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Philstage is rolling out an audience survey to gain more insights about the appetite of the audience to return to the theater. The information gathered through the survey will be shared with member companies, non-member theatrical institutions, venue partners, and other collaborators to help the industry craft a safer and sustainable plan. To answer the survey, visit bit.ly/philstagewindows. Responses are accepted until Feb. 16.

New books out on Artbooks

A NEW set of books ranging from movie history to essays on Philippine culture are now available at Artbooks.ph, both online and on site. Artbooks’ collection ranges from new prints to limited copies of rare books. Among the books that are now available are a rare previously owned copy of Being Filipino (₱21,500), a collection of writings and illustrations tracing the shifting contours of the Filipino identity from the postwar years to early Martial Law. Edited by Gilda Cordero-Fernando, it includes pieces by Fernando N. Zialcita, Lourdes V. Lapuz, Carmen Enrile Santiago, Virgilio Almario, Doreen G. Fernandez, Sylvia Mendez Ventura, and Nicanor Tiongson, as well as painters and photographers BenCab, E. Aguilar Cruz, Antonio Mahilum, and Nik Ricio.  Also available are Riding the Waves (₱2,000) which commemorates 15 years of the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. Edited by Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr., it includes the writings of Doreen Yu, Lito B. Zulueta, Jose Javier Reyes, Marjorie Evasco, Bayani San Diego Jr., Philip Cheah, Max Tessier, Ben Suzuki, Jessica Zafra, Michael Kho Lim, and Chris B. Millado. Allegories & Realities (₱600) is a monograph published in conjunction with the exhibition, “Allegories & Realities Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi: In Retrospect,” curated by Ma. Victoria Herrera at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2020. It documents prints and paintings made by the artist from the 1970s to the present. Wala Lang Vol IV (₱1,000) is the fourth in a series by Jaime C. Laya, which gathers his articles on Philippine life and culture published in the Manila Bulletin from 2016 to 2020 under his column, Wala Lang. Ang Liwanag Bago Dumilim (₱785) is a limited-edition set of three books of poetry in Filipino by Allan Popa. Signed by the author. These books and more can be purchased at artbooks.ph. The bookstore is located at 123 Pioneer St., Mandaluyong.  

Film screenings at MCAD

THE MUSEUM of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) is offering free film screenings this month. The films to be shown are Moonrise Kingdom (Feb. 2), Submarine (Feb. 9), Your Name (Feb. 16), and Chungking Express (Feb. 23). All screenings will be at noon. To register, visit https://bit.ly/MCADFebScrn2022. For inquiries, contact 8230-5100 loc. 3897.  MCAD is located at G/F De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Dominga St. Malate, Manila. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/MCADManila/.

Altro Mondo hosts Songcuya show

ALTRO MONDO presents Joar Songcuya’s “The Sea is Not a Quiet Place,” curated by Ricky Francisco. A self-taught artist, Songcuya continues his saga at sea with his new works. This is an extension of his first solo exhibit, titled “The History of Water” which was mounted last year in the same art gallery. “The Sea is Not a Quiet Place” is on view at Altro Mondo Creative Space (1159 Chino Roces Ave., San Antonio Village, Makati) until Feb. 12. The gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Viewings are strictly by appointment. For inquiries, contact the gallery via Facebook (@altromondoart) or Instagram (@altromondoart). To view the virtual exhibition, visit https://artspaces.kunstmatrix.com/…/the-sea-is-not-a…

Fundraising exhibit for San Sebastian church

THE SAN Sebastian Basilica Conservation and Development Foundation Inc., in partnership with 22 local artists, is hosting “Para Sa Ina: Rust to Art” exhibit, a fully digital fundraiser. This event is ongoing until April, with all proceeds going to support the restoration of the historic basilica. To view the exhibit, visit https://sansebastianconservation.org/pages/para-sa-ina-2022.

Filipinas Heritage Library is now online

ONE can now read online the Filipinas Heritage Library’s digitized collection, which includes rare books, at https://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/online-library. Established in 1996, the library is part of the Ayala Foundation’s Arts and Culture Division. As a one-stop digital research center on the Philippines, its mission is to spark and stoke interest in the visual, aural, and printed story of the Filipino. To access other online libraries, visit https://cpu.libguides.com/openaccess?fbclid=IwAR0tRaMQM1OIylJgIt0COC_R87vIB4xMcoGqi1UASUBNfZXDm8fCyzZzEDY.

National government outstanding debt

THE National Government (NG) recorded P11.73 trillion in outstanding debt as of end-December, pushing the debt-to-GDP ratio past the international threshold, preliminary data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed. Read the full story.

National government outstanding debt

Inflation seen easing to 3.7% in 2022 as food prices stabilize

INFLATION this year could ease to 3.7% as food prices stabilize even as oil prices remain elevated, First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) and University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) said in a joint report on Tuesday.

FMIC and UA&P in their market call report noted that inflation in December eased to 3.6% as food and transport price hikes decelerated.

“Despite elevated crude oil prices, we still project (2022) full-year inflation at 3.7%, as food prices have stabilized in the recent months,” the two institutions said.

This estimate is higher than the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) projection of 3.4% for this year.

Inflation is expected to have decelerated in January, as a favorable base effect offset the rise in oil prices and the impact of Typhoon Odette on food supply.

A BusinessWorld poll of 16 analysts last week yielded a median estimate of 3% for January inflation.

If that projection is realized, this would be the second consecutive month that inflation fell within the 2-4% target band set by the BSP. Inflation was 3.6% in December.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) will release the January consumer price index (CPI) report on Feb. 4, Friday. The PSA will change the base year for the CPI to 2018 starting in the January report to reflect changing household consumption patterns.

Meanwhile, FMIC and UA&P expect gross domestic product (GDP) growth to expand between 6-7% this year as remittances improve and the outsourcing industry generates more revenue. The estimate is more conservative than the government’s 7-9% target range.

Caveats include the continued impact of COVID-19 on poverty levels and supply chain disruptions, UA&P Economist Victor A. Abola said in a briefing last month.

Economic momentum from Christmas spending in December and more spending ahead of the elections should back growth in the first half of this year, according to the report.

Strong remittances from overseas Filipino workers are a source of temporarily support for the peso, it added.

“However, the widening trade deficits due to high crude oil prices and stronger economic growth in 2022 should keep the peso in depreciation mode.”

Cash remittances from migrant Filipino workers increased by 5.1% year on year to $2.5 billion in November, according to the central bank.

GDP in the fourth quarter grew 7.7%, bringing 2021 growth to 5.6%.

This reverses the 9.6% contraction in 2020, but is still lower than the pre-pandemic 6.1% growth posted in 2019. — Jenina P. Ibañez

January tax deadlines extended in areas observing Alert Level 3

TAX PAYMENT deadlines for January in areas that observed the Alert Level 3 quarantine setting have been extended, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said.

The bureau, in Revenue Regulations No. 1-2022 issued on Jan. 27, said the deadlines for filing tax returns and paying the corresponding taxes have been extended by 30 calendar days from their original due dates.

The extension also applies to the filing of position papers, replies, protests, and other documents related to audit investigations, while applications for tax refunds and issuances for deficiency tax collections also receive 30-day extensions.

“The extension applies to all taxpayers within the jurisdiction of the revenue regional and revenue district offices of the BIR classified under Alert Level 3 or higher,” BIR said.

Extended due dates that fall on holidays will be moved to the next working day.

As the daily coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tally surged due to the Omicron variant, areas such as Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal were placed under Alert Level 3 in January.

Economic managers estimate productivity losses of P3 billion a week due to the restrictions.

In Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 16-2022 issued on Jan. 31, the BIR further clarified that the extension applies to all required documents for tax payments, including inventory lists.

On value-added tax refunds, the extension applies even if the applicant is a registered tax payer in areas with more permissive alert settings, as long as the filing is done in an area observing Alert Level 3 or higher.

The BIR also encouraged taxpayers to file online and pay through online banking platforms. — Jenina P. Ibañez

European chamber calls on next gov’t to focus on anti-corruption reforms

European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Logo

THE NEXT administration needs to focus on reforms addressing corruption, according to the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP).

ECCP President Lars Wittig said in a roundtable discussion on Monday that such reforms benefit all businesses.

“I would like us to look at reforms that can curb the increase in corruption. Corruption has not got any better. It got worse,” Mr. Wittig said.

“When there is a very high trust level and transparency, that really makes business very adaptable and very willing to make investments,” he added.

Recently, Transparency International reported that the Philippines declined to a “historic low” in its 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

According to the 2021 CPI, the Philippines fell two spots to 117th place out of 180 countries and territories. The Philippines scored 33 out of 100 in a scale that measures perceived levels of public sector corruption. The scale ranges from 0 which means “highly corrupt” and 100 which means “very clean.”

Mr. Wittig said the next administration also needs to address the need for reforms in education, agriculture, human capital, and nutrition.

The ECCP supports the passage of amendments to the Public Service Act before Congress goes on break this week for the upcoming national elections.

Mr. Wittig said amendments to the law will provide “billions of dollars of incremental investments.”

“The passage of the amendments to the Public Service Act will leverage the country’s potential to achieve comparable levels of foreign investment in other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states,” Mr. Wittig said.

“The European Union (EU) is by far the largest investor in the ASEAN region. However, only 4.6% of the EU’s 2019 foreign direct investment (FDI) stock has been invested in the Philippines,” he added.

Amendments to the Public Service Act seek to allow 100% ownership in telecommunications, air carriers, domestic shipping, railways and subways, and canals and irrigation. Currently, foreign ownership in these industries is capped at 40%. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Alternative fertilizers touted as import costs rise

ATLASFERTILIZER.COM

THE FERTILIZER and Pesticide Authority (FPA) said farmers must explore non-traditional fertilizers after sharp increases in the price of imported fertilizer.

“The challenge is to (reduce) our dependence on imported chemical fertilizers by encouraging the use of non-traditional fertilizers like organic, microbial, and biorational fertilizers,” FPA Executive Director Wilfredo C. Roldan said in a text message.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has said that the pandemic will put further pressure on food production costs and the global supply chain.

“The agriculture sector this year will confront global challenges, such as other countries stockpiling fertilizers and fuel prices going up,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said in a statement.

The DA cited the United Nations Index, which reported that global food prices hit record highs during the pandemic, with a 28% rise in many foods like grains and meat in the last two years.

Farmers group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said that the government must provide more support to farmers to deal with rising input costs.

“The problem with the DA is that it keeps relying on imports. They never offer a pro-local farmer solution. The rest of the world is stockpiling fertilizers to support the needs of their respective agriculture sectors,” SINAG said in a statement.

SINAG urged the government to subsidize fertilizer using uncommitted funds generated by the Rice Tariffication Law.

SINAG reported that fertilizer prices nearly doubled to P1,600 per bag in August from P850 a year earlier. In December, fertilizer prices were at P2,500 per bag.

On average, 10 bags of fertilizers are needed for every hectare planted.

“We have been asking the DA since last year to provide subsidies to rice and corn farmers to cover the cost of fertilizer,” SINAG said. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Negros Oriental starts taking applications for companies seeking renewables incentives

THE FIRST local ordinance providing incentives for investing in renewable energy (RE) came into force on Jan. 28 in Negros Oriental, provincial officials said.

“The renewable energy ordinance is a landmark piece of local legislation that will surely boost the morale of our environmental warriors and champions in the field; most of all, this will give us more drive to sustain our efforts for a clean and sustainable world,” Governor Roel R. Degamo said in a statement.

The province’s RE Code awards carbon credits and a one-year tax holiday to renewable energy investors in the province.

Almana Power Corp. became the first entity to apply for incentives under the code.

“The RE Code (also) encourages all eligible institutions and companies to avail of the government’s Green Energy Option Program (GEOP), which allows power consumers with monthly consumption of at least 100 kilowatts to source… renewable energy directly from licensed GEOP providers,” the provincial government said in a statement.

In 2018, the province banned construction of new coal-fired power plant projects and declared March 5 Renewable Energy Day. — Marielle C. Lucenio

Full benefits of RCEP require more trade openness — PIDS

REUTERS

THE PHILIPPINES needs to improve its openness to trade to fully benefit from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, according to a study issued by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). 

Conducted by PIDS Senior Research Fellow Francis Mark A. Quimba, PIDS Supervising Research Specialist Mark Anthony A. Barral, and PIDS Research Analyst Abigail E. Andrada, the study concluded that the Philippines is less open to trade than other countries in the region.

The authors defined trade openness as the ability “to integrate into world trading patterns.”

 “(The Philippines) scored below 100% in trade openness in 2018. It has not followed a growth path similar to its neighbors in the region, particularly Thailand and Vietnam, which scored above 100 percent,” the study found.

The study also concluded that the Philippines needs to diversify its exports and explore new products and markets.  

“Patterns of concentration can be seen in the country’s exports as (the bulk consists of) machinery and electronic equipment. The destinations are also concentrated among the traditional partners in the region and the US,” the study found.  

“Innovation is important. Support for private sector innovation and exploration of new products and new markets should be optimized,” it added.  

According to the authors, the Philippines “is exploring new products to export, which is a good indication of innovation… However, the country still needs support to sustain exports of these products to the Philippines’ current markets.”  

The authors also cited the need to improve trade complementarity within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The study defined trade complementarity as the extent to which two countries are “natural trading partners,” with one country’s exports fulfilling another country’s import needs and vice versa.

“The success of any trade agreement depends on utilization. The reduction in trade costs needs to be internalized by the Philippine businesses which, can be done by increasing the awareness and utilization of Philippine trade agreements,” the authors said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Banana growers back RCEP ratification

THE Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, Inc. (PBGEA) expressed its support for the Senate’s ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement.

The Senate has until Feb. 4 to decide on RCEP’s ratification before it goes on break ahead of the national elections.

PBGEA Executive Director Stephen A. Antig said in a letter addressed to Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Aquilino Martin Pimentel III on Jan. 31 that RCEP will help ensure the sustainability of the banana industry, which is threatened by the surging cost of inputs such as fertilizer, packaging material, plastics, and freight.

“(The industry) is threatened by the unprecedented increase in prices of imported key inputs like fertilizer by 100%, kraft paper used for boxes by 53%, plastics by 65%, and maritime freight by more than 100% due to global shortages of containers and the movement of fuel prices,” Mr. Antig said.

“Studies show that with RCEP, the Philippines along with Vietnam, a major competitor in supplying the foreign markets with fresh banana and other tropical fruits, would be winners because of the decline in trade costs. We cannot afford to miss out this opportunity of being a part of the world’s most important regional economic bloc,” he added.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said via Viber that the Philippines should participate in RCEP because of the opened up for various industries.

“We should not be inward-looking. If we are not part of (RCEP), while our neighbors are, imagine which exporters will gain shares in those markets. Our market shares in exports of pineapples, bananas, canned tuna and fish products, coconut, cacao, garments, electronics and the like will erode,” Mr. Lopez said.

“Opportunities for our professional service exports such as engineers and architects will not be maximized. We will lose the gains we had. Investors would rather go to those countries with more market access. This will be the effect of an inward-looking policy. (There’s) no reason to delay,” he added. 

RCEP, which started taking effect on Jan. 1, has been ratified by Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea. It is touted as the largest trade deal in the world and is projected to help economic recovery from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by boosting global trade. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Body handling Marcos case left with one member

COMMISSIONER MARIA ROWENA V. GUANZON — THE PHILIPPINE STAR FILE PHOTO

AN ELECTION commissioner who alleged interference in the disqualification case against the son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos on Tuesday said her vote and that of another member of the First Division probably won’t be counted if the decision comes out after Feb. 3.

Marlon S. Casquejo is moving to the Second Division of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Feb. 3, Commissioner Maria Rowena V. Guanzon, who is retiring on Feb. 3, told a forum hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP).

“I think they suspect that Commissioner Casquejo is also for disqualification,” she said. “So, it’s not just my vote that’s being defeated by a junior member,” she added, referring to Commissioner Aimee P. Ferolino, who was assigned to write the decision and whom she had accused of delaying the case.

Ms. Ferolino has rejected the allegation, citing case load for the delay.

Comelec has six members and one chairman. Its two divisions have three members each. Decisions issued by the two divisions are eventually appealed to the seven-member en banc.

Ms. Guanzon, the presiding commissioner of the First Division, on Monday released her separate opinion in which she voted to disqualify Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. from this year’s presidential election after he was convicted for tax evasion in the 1990s. The First Division was supposed to rule on the case on Jan. 17, she said.

She said she released her opinion before the main ruling was issued for public interest.

Also retiring on Feb. 3 are Comelec Chairman Sheriff M. Abas and Commissioner Antonio T. Kho, Jr. This means the agency will be left with only four commissioners.

Commissioner Soccoro B. Inting will become the acting chairperson until President Rodrigo R. Duterte appoints the replacements. Ms. Inting is a member of the Second Division, which on Jan. 17 favored Mr. Marcos in a similar lawsuit seeking to bar his presidential run.

The case is on appeal before the Comelec en banc.

Ms. Guanzon, an appointee of the late President Benigno S.C. Aquino III — Mr. Duterte’s predecessor — has alleged that a senator from Davao whom she has not named was trying to meddle in the Marcos disqualification cases. The other six commissioners are Duterte appointees.

Ms. Guanzon noted that when a presiding commissioner retires, a division ruling is rewritten to accommodate the signature of the incoming presiding officer.

“She disrespected two senior commissioners,” Ms. Guanzon told reporters, referring to Ms. Ferolino. “How can she do that on her own? She must have a powerful person backing her.”

She also said she had named the senator in question to Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, adding that she would name him in case the chamber starts an investigation.

In her opinion, Ms. Guanzon said the facts surrounding Mr. Marcos’s tax evasion “are markedly telling of the character or nature of the acts or omissions committed by the respondent.”

She added that by failing to submit his annual income tax returns for four straight occasions, the former senator showed a deliberate intent to violate the law.

Mr. Marcos did not submit certified receipts that showed he had paid for the tax deficiencies as ordered the Court of Appeals (CA), the commissioner said, citing the preliminary conference on Jan. 7.

Political analysts have said Comelec should investigate allegations of interference at the agency to keep its independence and avoid public distrust.

The integrity of the presidential elections this year are at stake, said Maria Ela L. Atienza, a political science professor from the University of the Philippines. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Daily COVID infections could fall to 5,000 by end-February — OCTA

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

DAILY coronavirus infections in the Philippines could fall to about 5,000 by late February, according to researchers from the country’s premier university.

OCTA Research Group fellow Fredegusto P. David on Tuesday said cases in the country might go down to about 10,000 by mid-February before falling to further to 5,000 by the end of the month.

“We saw a sharp decline in cases like in South Africa and Metro Manila,” he told a televised news briefing in Filipino.

He said infections were declining in almost all areas in Luzon, adding that infections were also falling in parts of the Visayas and Mindanao such as in the cities of Cebu, Tacloban, Iloilo and Davao.

The country has been posting almost 10,000 cases daily after a fresh surge in infections spurred by the highly mutated Omicron variant. On Jan. 15, the Philippines posted record daily infections of 39,004.

The Department of Health (DoH) posted 9,493 coronavirus infections on Tuesday, bringing the total to 3.57 million.

The death toll hit 54,054 after 51 more patients died, while recoveries rose by 24,210 to 3.34 million, it said in a bulletin.

It said 28.8% of 31,053 samples on Jan. 30 tested positive for COVID-19, still above the 5% threshold set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Of the 176,053 active cases, 6,133 did not show symptoms, 164,995 were mild, 3,070 were moderate, 1,529 were severe and 326 were critical.

DoH said 73% of the latest cases occurred from Jan. 19 to Feb. 1. The top regions with new cases in the past two weeks were Metro Manila with 1,041, Calabarzon with 775, and Central Luzon with 696. It added that 98% of deaths occurred in January.

DoH said 30 duplicates had been removed from the tally, 17 of which were recoveries, while 16 recoveries were relisted as deaths. Ten laboratories failed to submit data on Jan. 30.

The agency said 46% of intensive care unit beds in the country had been used, while the rate for Metro Manila was 40%.

Mr. David said the Manila and nearby cities could be at low risk from the coronavirus by mid-February.

“Our projection is that maybe one to two weeks Metro Manila will be already at low risk,” he said, noting that the positivity rate in the capital region is expected to fall to 10% from 17%.

He added that the reproduction and healthcare use rates in the region, which is still at moderate risk, continue to decline.

Mr. David said Metro Manila’s average daily attack rate was at 19.58%. “We are waiting for the average daily attack rate to decrease to less than 10.”

The OCTA fellow tweeted separately that Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon and Rizal provinces were also at moderate risk as of Jan. 31, with new COVID-19 cases trending downward.

The government is scrambling to fully vaccinate more Filipinos as it reopens the economy.

It had fully vaccinated more than 59 million people as of Jan. 31, while 60.42 million have received their first dose, data from the Health department showed. About 7.5. million booster shots have been give out. — K.A.T. Atienza

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