Malacañang on Monday said the government was expecting an additional P9.4 billion in the country’s weekly economic activity when Metro Manila and 38 other areas shift to Alert Level 1 starting March 1.

Acting Palace spokesman Karlo Nograles made the statement a day before the 39 areas will spend two weeks under Alert Level 1, the most lenient alert level.

“Ang expectations po natin na additional is P9.4 billion worth in economic activity per week and 170,000 less unemployed individuals in the next three months kung tuluy-tuloy itong Alert Level 1 natin,” Nograles said in a Palace briefing.

Under Alert Level 1, restrictions on mobility, including intrazonal and interzonal travel to all regardless of age and co-morbidities are eased.

All establishments, persons, or activities, will also be allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site capacity provided public health standards are still followed.

“We are reaping the rewards of collective action. It is collective action that has resulted in more than just restrictions in our daily lives, it also means reduced restrictions that will contribute to more livelihood opportunities and better incomes for many of our kababayans,” Nograles said.

The Philippines recorded 951 new Covid-19 infections on Monday, the lowest this year. John Ezekiel J. Hirro