President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, November 11, signed Executive Order No. 151 approving the nationwide implementation of the alert level system for COVID-19 response.

“The nationwide shift to Alert Level System would allow for the reinvigoration of the economy through the opening of more sectors, while protecting the people’s health through the continuous observance of public health protocols and interventions and the heightened implementation of lockdowns in smaller areas, also known as granular lockdowns,” EO 151 said.

Metro Manila was the pilot region for the system in September. It was later expanded to other areas in the country.

The implementation will be done in four phases:

• Phase 1: Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Davao Region
• Phase 2: Ilocos Region, Eastern Visayas, and Soccsksargen
• Phase 3: Cagayan Valley, Bicol, and Zamboanga Peninsula
• Phase 4: Cordillera Administrative Region, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Mimaropa, and Caraga

Phase 2 implementation may begin at any time after the effectivity of the order not later than the end of November, EO 151 said.

The succeeding phases will start every after week thereafter until full nationwide rollout.

The alert level scheme is designed to replace the current system of quarantine classification comprised of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), modified ECQ (MECQ), general community quarantine (GCQ), and modified GCQ (MGCQ).

The new system is more relaxed with age mobility restrictions and provides some perks to fully-vaccinated people. Learn about each alert system here. –  Rappler.com