Malacañang on Thursday expressed support to the proposal that will implement a more lenient alert level in Metro Manila.

In a virtual press conference, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque backed the suggestion of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to place Metro Manila under Alert Level 3, considering the drop in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) reproduction rate.

Roque, however, acknowledged that the final decision would come from the Department of Health (DOH).

“Suportado natin iyan pero ang desisyon po ay magiging desisyon ng DOH (We support that [proposal to downgrade the alert level in Metro Manila], but the decision will be announced by DOH),” he said.

Roque said Metro Manila could shift from Alert Level 4 to Alert Level 3 since it has reported lower Covid-19 infections following the implementation of the alert level system.

“Bumaba po ‘yung tinatawag na reproduction rate at bumababa ‘yung mga numero ng kaso (Reproduction rate and (Covid-19) cases are going down),” he said.

Roque said members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) will meet on Thursday afternoon to discuss the new alert level system in Metro Manila.

Metro Manila has been placed under Alert Level 4 from Sept. 16 to 30.

Alert Level 4 is imposed in areas in Metro Manila with high or increasing Covid-19 case counts, as well as high total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate, according to guidelines ratified by IATF-EID.

Under the guidelines, the DOH is tasked to identify the alert level in Metro Manila.

The DOH earlier said Metro Manila may remain under Alert Level 4. (PNA)