No plan to raise NCR to Alert Level 4 despite COVID surge, says Concepcion

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion stated there is no need to raise the National Capital Region (NCR) to Alert Level 4 despite a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Concepcion clarified that he had spoken with Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) members, including Secretary Año, and there were no plans for an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or Alert Level 4.

He explained that mobility naturally decreases in the first quarter due to reduced spending after the holidays and public apprehension about going out amidst rising cases.

Concepcion emphasized that a higher alert level is unnecessary as businesses typically experience slow sales during this period and people are scared to go out.

He also mentioned that an ECQ would be detrimental to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and local government units (LGUs) given the country's growing debt-to-GDP ratio.

Concepcion lauded the move of NCR mayors to restrict the movement of unvaccinated individuals as a step towards protecting them and maintaining economic recovery.