A checkpoint signage has been put up for motorists entering Manila in this photo taken on March 16, 2020, as part of measures to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. AFP file photo
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� At least four mayors in Metro Manila, including the chairperson of Metro Manila Council (MMC), will vote to downgrade the alert level status in the metropolis to Alert Level 1.
MMC chairperson Para帽aque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco and Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi said they will vote for the least restrictive alert level system in Metro Manila.
鈥淧ara帽aque recommendation [is] alert level 1 starting March 1,鈥� Olivarez told 黑料社 in a text message when asked for his vote.
In a separate phone interview, Zamora told 黑料社 that he will vote for聽聽Alert Level 1 in Metro Manila since San Juan has already managed to control the spread of COVID-19 with the city鈥檚 high vaccination rate.
鈥淲e could sustain the low cases especially since there is no variant of concern being monitored here and in other countries for now. I could foresee a low number of cases in Metro Manila in weeks and months to come,鈥� he said.
Zamora also revealed over ABS-CBN 黑料社 Channel that he 鈥渨ill vote for alert level 1 once the votation is asked for tonight.鈥�
Meanwhile, Tiangco said in a text message to 黑料社 that he intends to vote for Alert Level 1, but did not further elaborate.
Fresnedi will also vote for the Alert Level 1, according to city government spokesperson Tez Navarro.
鈥淪ame with San Juan,鈥� Navarro told 黑料社 when asked about his vote on the issue.
Pressed if Fresnedi will vote to downgrade Metro Manila鈥檚 alert level, his spokesperson answered: 鈥淵es, [that is] what he told me.鈥�
The MMC, composed of 17 mayors in Metro Manila, will have a meeting on Tuesday night to discuss the capital region鈥檚 alert level status.
Metro Manila is under COVID-19 Alert Level 2 until February 28.
Some health experts and the business sector are one in saying that the alert level in Metro Manila should be downgraded to Alert Level 1.
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