2 senators warn vs lifting of alert level system
MOST SENATORS support the elimination of the coronavirus alert level system in the country as the National Economic and Development Authority looks to transition towards an “endemic” state of affairs, but at least two lawmakers are proposing other options.
Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay-Angeles said on Tuesday the proposal seemed improbable at this time as the country has yet to achieve the “endemic state of public health.”
“It is ideal that we embrace and accept COVID as part of our daily lives, but we have yet to put in place health safeguards, and almost half of our population is not yet vaccinated,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino through Viber.
As of Monday, about 59.03 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, while 60.42 million have taken their first shot. The Philippines has a population of about 110 million.
Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said while he agrees with the plan, implementation should be done more cautiously alongside stepped-up vaccination activities.
“I’m in favor of removing it gradually — maybe (in the) second half of this year,” he said. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan
