The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) on Friday appealed to the national government to give local government units (LGUs) wider authority in imposing alert levels.
The Philippines is piloting the alert level system in Metro Manila, which may soon replace the community quarantines classifications the government has been imposing to curb the spread of Covid-19 since last year.
The assignment of alert levels is subject to the assessments of the Department of Health (DOH).
Marinduque Rep. Presbitero Velasco Jr., president of the LPP, said LGUs should be given more powers in determining alert levels.
“Ang hinihiling talaga rin ng mga local government units ay mabigyan sila nang mas malawak na powers or authority para po sila iyong naglalagay ng mga measures or protocols na tugma doon sa kani-kanilang territorial jurisdiction,” he said in a “Laging Handa” news briefing.
“Hinihiling din po natin na…konsultahin po talaga lahat iyong mga maaapektuhan, baka po mayroon po silang suggestion na ‘huwag naman hong Level 2, baka puwede na kaming Level 3 dahil mas mataas ho ang transmission,’ o iyon namang iba ay baka gusto nilang Level 1,” he added.
Palace spokesman Harry Roque on Thursday said LGUs were being consulted on the imposition of alert levels.
Alert levels are “not subject to discussions or debate…[and] not even subject to appeals,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said.
The Philippines has recorded 2,745,889 Covid-19 cases as of Oct. 22. John Ezekiel J. Hirro