SEC. KARLO NOGRALES: Magandang tanghali po sa ating mga kababayan at sa mga miyembro ng Malacañang Press Corps.

I’d like to begin by providing some updates from the Inter-Agency Task Force or IATF. Our first update involves the entry of foreign nationals effective 1 December 2021. Fully vaccinated nationals of non-visa required countries under Executive Order No. 408 Series of 1960 as amended shall be allowed to enter the Philippines until 15 December 2021 subject to the following conditions: Una, holders of passports valid for at least six months at the time of arrival and with a return for outbound ticket to their country of origin or next country of destination.

Pangalawa, prior to arrival in the Philippines, the foreign national should have stayed exclusively in green list countries, territories or jurisdiction for 14 days.

Pangatlo, they must have the following proofs of COVID-19 vaccination recognized under existing IATF regulations: Number 1, World Health Organization international certificates of vaccination and prophylaxis; Number 2, VaxCertPH; or, Number 3, national state digital certificate of the foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF.

In this regard, the following testing and quarantine protocols shall be observed in all ports of entry: First, a negative RT-PCR Test shall be required to be taken within 72 hours prior to departure from the country of origin. Upon arrival no facility base quarantine and no on arrival RT-PCR Test will be further required but the passenger is enjoined to self-monitor for any symptoms until the 14th day with the first day being the date of arrival.

Second, travelers nearly transiting through non-green list countries, territories or jurisdictions shall not be deemed as having come from or having been to said countries/territories or jurisdictions if they stayed in the airport for the whole time and were not cleared for such entry into such countries/territories or jurisdictions by its Immigration authorities.

Third, the testing and quarantine protocols of minors shall follow the testing and the quarantine protocols of the parents or guardian traveling with them regardless of the minor’s vaccination status and country of origin.

Fourth, for those vaccinated but failed to comply with the above test before travel requirements, they shall be governed by the protocols for unvaccinated individuals coming from green list countries/territories or jurisdiction such that they shall be required to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of a negative RT-PCR Test taken on the 5th day. They will also be required to self-monitor until the 14th day of arrival with the date of arrival meaning the first date.

Fifth, for your guidelines, the list of non-visa required countries under Executive Order No. 406, Series of 1960 as amended may be found at the DFA official websites.

With regard naman to the alert level system The IATF approved the following, to be observed in the nationwide implementation of the said system: First, the Department of Health in coordination and discussion with the STWG on data analytic shall determine the alert level of classification of provinces, highly urbanized cities and independent component cities for the final approval and announcement of the IATF. Ang final alert level classifications ay hindi po puwedeng iapela.

Second, recommendations for new alert level classifications will be given in time for the 15th and the end of the month. However, assessment of areas will be done weekly to determine areas requiring immediate escalation.

Third, alert level escalations may be done at any time within the implementation period if warranted. However, de-escalations shall only be done at the end of the set implementation period.

Naintindihan po natin na bumababa ang kaso ng COVID-19 sa ng buong bansa at magandang senyales po ito ngunit hindi po tayo magiging kampante. We have already seen what can happen when we become lax.

Still on alert level systems, the IATF ratify the following recommendations: Una, with the nationwide implementations of guidelines on the alert level system for COVID-19 response providing for among others guidelines on the conduct of contact sports, IATF Resolution # 79 Series of 2020 issued on 15 October 2020 is hereby repealed in so far as the authority to the regional IATFs to approve the same pursuant to the alert level guidelines wherein for contact sports in areas under level 2 the same may be conducted subject to the approval of the LGU where such games shall be held. Okay. So, sa LGU po iyan.

Pangalawa, ang mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng minimum public health standards tulad ng tamang pagsuot ng face mask, inatasan ang mga pampubliko at pribadong establisyemento na tiyakin ang pagpapatupad nito kasama na doon sa mga bata, mga minors at ang pag-exclude sa lahat ng mga hindi sumusunod dito sa kanilang mga lugar. Inatasan din ang mga lokal na pamahalaan na siguraduhin na magpapatupad ng tama ang direktibang ito. Sa madaling salita, kung hindi po sumusunod ang isang individual sa patakaran ukol sa paggamit ng face mask puwede pong hindi papasukin sa establisimyento.

Bilang pagpapakita ng buong suporta sa Bayanihan Bakunahan, ang National Security Adviser bilang Vice Chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict ay inatasan na maglabas ng deployment guidelines para sa Cabinet Officers sa Regional Development and Security.

Sa usaping bakuna: Dumating kagabi, November 25, ang 1,017,900 doses ng Pfizer vaccines na binili ng pamahalaan. Kahapon naman ng hapon ay dumating ang 3,191,040 doses ng AstraZeneca vaccines na donasyon ng Inglatera sa Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng COVAX facility. May 700 thousand doses ng Astra Zeneca vaccines na donasyon ng pamahalaan ng Australia na dumating noong Miyerkules November 24th. That is a total of 4.9 million doses that arrived between Wednesday and yesterday.

Samantala, nasa halos 79.6 million ang kabuuang bilang ng doses ng bakuna na naiturok sa buong Pilipinas as of November 25, 2021 ayon sa National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard. Sa bilang na ito, nasa 45.32% or almost 35 million na ang fully vaccinated. Habang sa Metro Manila ay higit 100% or 10.4 million na ang nakatanggap ng first dose, samantalang 95.11% or mahigit 9.2 million na ang fully vaccinated.

Sa COVID-19 update naman po, nananatiling below 1,000, that’s 975, ang mga bagong kaso ayon sa datos ng DOH na may petsang November 25, 2021. Ang kabuuang bilang ng mga aktibong kaso ay nasa 17,796.

Ang positivity rate, katulad ng last press briefing po natin ay nasa 2.8% pa rin. Patuloy ang pagtaas ng gumaling, nasa 97.7% ito. Nasa mahigit 2.7 million ang naka-recover habang nasa 1.69% ang ating fatality rate. Malungkot naming ibinabalita sa inyo na kahapon ay nagtala tayo ng 193 na bilang ng mga binawian ng buhay dahil sa COVID-19. Suma total ay mayroon na tayong 47,875 COVID deaths.

Patuloy na gumaganda ang kondisyon ng ating mga ospital sa buong Pilipinas. Nasa 30% ang ICU bed utilization; 29% naman sa Metro Manila. Twenty-seven percent ang utilized isolation beds sa buong Pilipinas; sa Metro Manila, ito ay nasa 25%. Samantala, 16% ang utilized ward beds; 20% naman po dito sa Metro Manila. Pagdating sa ventilators, ang utilized sa buong Pilipinas ay nasa 19%; 21 naman sa buong Metro Manila.

Paalala lang po, hindi pa rin ito dahilan para magpakampante. Patuloy pa rin na sumunod sa mask, hugas, iwas at magpabakuna. Ayon sa World Health Organization and I quote, “Data suggest that before the arrival of the Delta variant, vaccines reduced transmission by about 60%; with Delta, that has dropped to about 40%.”

Dagdag pa ng WHO: “Vaccines save lives but they do not fully prevent transmission.” Kaya nga po paulit-ulit naming ipinapaalala na kung kayo ay bakunado na, patuloy pa rin pong mag-mask, hugas, iwas para iwasang ma-infect ang sarili at maka-infect din ng ibang tao.

Tatlong tulog na lamang ay National COVID-19 Vaccination Days na. Ayon a Proclamation 1253 na nilagdaan ng Pangulo noong Miyerkules, November 24, at nilabas ng aming opisina sa parehas na araw, ang mga empleyado at mga manggagawa na nasa pamahalaan at pribadong sektor na mababakunahan sa November 29, November 30 at December 1 ay hindi maituturing na absent basta magpakita lamang sila ng proof of vaccination sa nasabing araw sa kanilang employer.

Magkita-kita po tayo sa Lunes para sa ‘Bayanihan, Bakunahan’ launch. Sama-sama nating ipakita ang lakas. Isang bayan nating labanan ang COVID sa pinagsamang puwersa ng national government at buong medical community. Labing limang (15) milyong Pilipino ang ating babakunahan sa buong bansa. Ligtas, lakas, buong Pilipinas.

As per the activities of the President, he has a full day today. He is scheduled to speak before the second plenary and retreat sessions of the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM Summit) on the topic: Rebuilding a Resilient Future and Other International and Regional Issues.

The ASEM Summit is an informal dialogue process involving 53 partners from Europe, Asia, the European Union and the ASEAN Secretariat. The Philippines is one of the founding members.

This year’s summit is chaired by the Kingdom of Cambodia with the theme: Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth.

Mahalagang anunsiyo: Naka-flash po sa inyong screen ang lucky winners ng P5,000 para sa buwan ng Oktubre para sa Bakunado Panalo raffle. Congratulations po sa ating 50 winners. Bina-validate pa po ng DOH ang winners ng November draw, iaanunsiyo ito ilang linggo mula ngayon.

Sumali na sa grand draw, puwede ka pang mag-register hanggang December 15. Tandaan, maaari kang manalo ng isang milyong piso para sa grand prize; kalahating milyong piso para sa second grand prize at sampu ang pipiliin para manalo ng one hundred thousand pesos. Pumunta lamang po sa DOH Facebook page para sa karagdagang detalye. Kung may manalo man sa inyo dito sa MPC, congratulations! Ayaw ko na sabihin iyong susunod na linya [laughs].

Dito nagtatapos ang ating presentation. Makakasama po natin ngayon si Dana Krizia ng Bureau of Immigration, ang kanilang spokesperson.

BI SPOKESPERSON SANDOVAL: Magandang hapon po, CabSec. And sa ngalan po ni Commissioner Jaime Morente at ng buong Bureau of Immigration, magandang araw din po sa ating mga tagasubaybay.

SEC. NOGRALES: Dana?

BI SPOKESPERSON SANDOVAL: Magandang araw, CabSec.

SEC. NOGRALES: Yes, yes. Dana, go ahead. Would you like to speak about iyong ano natin—December 1 natin na pagpapapasok ng ating mga—those coming from “Green” list countries, territories and jurisdiction.

BI SPOKESPERSON SANDOVAL: All right po.

Sa ngalan po ng Bureau of Immigration, nakahanda na po ang BI dito po sa opening ng ating bansa dito po sa pagpasok ng mga foreign nationals, ng mga turista starting on December 1.

So, we have implemented several changes para po maging ready and full force ang ating manpower during that period. So, ang ating frontline personnel in full force po iyan. Banned po sila ngayon from filing vacation leaves during the holiday season lalung-lalo na po ay tumatanggap na tayo ng turista galing po sa ibang bansa.

We have also maximized our manpower by adding 99 iyong Immigration officers and there’s also another batch of Immigration officers na hinihintay po natin na ma-deploy din.

And ni-resume na rin natin ang paggamit ng ating mga e-gates for arriving Filipinos. Makakatulong po ito sa mga OFWs lalung-lalo na sa uuwi po ngayong Kapaskuhan. Malaki po iyong naitutulong nito sa pagpapabilis ng pagpuproseso ng arriving Filipinos.

Normally, it takes around 45 seconds for processing ng isang tao, isang indibidwal but with the use of the e-gates, bumaba po ito up to eight seconds. Temporarily po kasi sinuspinde muna ang paggamit po nito during the pandemic because there were fears na magkaroon ng contamination dahil hinahawakan po ito for biometrics capturing. But sa ngayon po, nag-implement tayo ng strict sanitation measures para masigurado po na mama-maximize natin iyong gamit po nitong e-gates at makakatulong dito sa pagpapabilis ng proseso sa arriving passengers.

And mayroon din po tayong rapid response team. So, lahat po ng Immigration officers na na-naka-deploy sa back-end offices naka-standby po iyan kung sakali pong kakailanganin po natin ng added manpower for the holiday season.

SEC. NOGRALES: Maraming, maraming salamat, Dana. At pumunta naman po tayo sa mga questions from the media. Usec. Rocky?

USEC. IGNACIO: Yes. Good afternoon, Secretary Nograles and kay Ms. Dana.

Question from Mela Lesmoras ng PTV and Jam Punzalan ng ABS-CBN, same question din po with Tuesday Niu ng DZBB: Metro Manila Mayors last week said they would let the IATF decide the mobility curbs for children aged 12 below. How soon can we expect this decision?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Iyong IATF po ay magri-reply letter na po sa Metro Manila Council maging sa mga mayors na nagsulat po sa IATF. So IATF will be replying to their letter regarding that ‘no, question or issue ang concern po nila. At kagaya ng nabanggit ko na nga kanina sa ating resolution, latest resolution ng IATF, iyong mga establishments po – lahat po tayo, public and private establishments – unang-una sa lahat, kailangan po natin talagang ma-implement na lahat ng pumapasok-labas ng ating mga establisyimento ay dapat naka-minimum public health standard protocol; sinusunod nila ang minimum public health standards kabilang na po diyan iyong pagsuot ng face mask.

So mayroon pong authority ang mga establishments na doon sa mga hindi nagsusuot ng face mask or hindi kaya magsuot ng face mask – kabilang na po dito iyong mga menor de edad – ay mayroon po silang authority na hindi po papasukin sa kanilang establisyimento. At kami po’y nananawagan sa mga LGUs to ensure that this is strictly being enforced. So ganoon na lamang po ang kasagutan, ang desisyon ng IATF tungkol sa concern po na ‘yan.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Second question from Jam Punzalan ng ABS-CBN: A doctor recently said a one-year-old patient was admitted to the hospital with bronchopneumonia after going to a crowded area. How alarming does the IATF find this information considering that recently another two-year-old reportedly caught COVID-19 after going to the mall.

CABSEC NOGRALES: Opo. Ganoon na nga po, crowded area ‘no, sinabi crowded area. So tandaan po natin iyong 3Cs – kabilang na diyan iyong crowded area ‘no, those with close contact. ‘Pag crowded area, ‘pag kasama sa 3Cs lalo pa pong importante na naka-minimum public health standards po tayo tulad ng pagsuot ng face mask. Para sa mga menor de edad sabihin natin na mga batang-bata, mga infants lalo na na hindi naman makapagsuot ng face mask, dapat automatic na po para sa ating lahat – maging magulang, guardian, tayong mga adults – nasa responsibility na siguro natin iyan ‘no na ‘pag crowded area, ‘pag closed area, doon may close contact, hindi naman makapagsuot ng face mask so hindi natin dadalhin – okay, number one.

Number two po, pangalawa, iyong establisyemento na mismo – private or public establishments – ‘pag hindi naka-face mask, kasama mga bata diyan, huwag na lang po natin papasukin. Authority ninyo na po ‘yan, that is part and parcel of your responsibility and obligation na rin po. Huwag papasukin kung hindi naka-face mask, minimum public health standards ‘no. And number three, LGUs must strictly enforce that ‘no. And tulung-tulong po tayo dito, ito po ‘yung pinakamensahe ng IATF.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Third question po, from Llanesca Panti ng GMA News Online: When will the IATF allow the private sector to use its COVID-19 vaccine supply for booster dose of its employee?

CABSEC NOGRALES: I will refer you to the answer of Secretary Galvez, he already spoke to that issue. So nagsalita na po siya, ang pinaka-gist ng sagot niya: We must prioritize, it is our moral responsibility and obligation to prioritize po iyong wala pang bakuna.

USEC. IGNACIO: Thank you, Secretary.

CABSEC NOGRALES: Can we go to Mela Lesmoras of PTV-4?

MELA LESMORAS/PTV4: Hi! Good afternoon, Secretary Nograles at kay Spox Dana. Sir, unahin ko lang, follow up question doon nga sa mga bagong IATF policies, para sa inyo po ni Spox Dana. Itatanong ko lang po since magiging parami na nang parami iyong mga tinatanggap natin sa Pilipinas, paano naman po tayo mag-iingat lalo na’t may na-detect na namang bagong variant ng COVID-19 sa South Africa na pinangangambahang malala din iyong possible na maging epekto? Paano po kaya natin iyon mari-reconcile? Sa ngayon, as early as now ano po kaya iyong mga measures na gagawin ng government para hindi ito matulad sa Delta variant na talagang maraming naapektuhan sa buong bansa? Sa Bureau of Immigration side and sa Malacañang side po.

CABSEC NOGRALES: Opo. On the IATF side and on the Malacañang side ‘no, of course the DOH is aware, the IATF is also aware. We are monitoring ‘no, intently monitoring itong situation na ito. Patuloy pa rin po ang ating ginagawa na genomic surveillance on the ground at patuloy rin po iyong pakikipag-ugnayan natin sa WHO. We are in communication, constant communication with WHO and monitoring developments on their front especially awaiting their advisories kung ito bang variant na ito is considered a variant of interest or a variant of concern. But rest assured sa ating mga kababayan na minu-monitor natin ito intently.

Dana, would you like to add anything?

BI SPOX SANDOVAL: Yes, CabSec. Sa part naman po ng Bureau of Immigration, nakahanda po kami na mag-implement kung sakali pong makita ng IATF that there is a need to adjust iyong ating mga travel restrictions kung sakali po na biglang may mga umusbong na mga bagong variants kagaya po noong nabanggit ninyo. And immediately po ‘yan, mayroon po kaming system in place na kapag may directive po ang IATF na kailangan pong baguhin, immediately po kaya po nating i-implement and we have the sufficient manpower naman po para tugunan po itong mga pangangailangan na ito.

Doon naman po sa ating mga areas, sa Immigration areas, of course sa pagbubukas po ng ating shores dito po sa mga foreign travellers, there’s always a risk kung dadami po iyong mga bibiyahe. But we have implemented strict protocols and social distancing po doon sa ating areas para masigurado po natin na minimized po iyong risk habang sila po ay dumadaan doon sa Immigration area.

MELA LESMORAS/PTV4: Opo. Thank you po. At, CabSec, tungkol naman sa National Vaccination Days para lang din clear sa ating mga kababayan. May mga nagtatanong po kasi kung bakit nga hindi ginawang special non-working holidays iyong three days na iyon. And just a situational—just for the record kasi iyon nga, may mga kababayan tayo like senior citizens or may comorbidities. So, kung kasama lang—kunyari anak na sasamahan iyong nanay niya na may comorbidities or senior citizen, ano siya, ia-absent siya sa trabaho dahil hindi siya iyong mismong nagpabakuna.

CABSEC NOGRALES: Iyong mga intricacies na mga details na ‘yan, I suppose will be between the employer and the employee na pag-usapan nila. Base naman dito sa IATF at sa mga issuances na puwedeng ibigay ng national government, dito lang po tayo sa general rule – and the general rule is if you are scheduled or you will be vaccinated during those vaccination days, then the employer should allow you to get vaccinated. So dito lang po tayo sa general rule, sa mga particulars po that’s really between the employer and the employee para mapag-usapan nila ‘yan.

And to answer your question, the reason why hindi po siya holiday ay dahil naman po—of course number one, kailangan nating paandarin ang ating ekonomiya lalung-lalo na sa panahon ngayon. Let’s use this, you know, itong pagbaba ng cases ng COVID, maganda iyong nakikita nating numero – this is really our chance and opportunity to rebound the economy. That being said, siyempre kailangan natin na magtrabaho ‘no at ang ie-exempt lang doon, iyong hindi pa bakunado at kailangan magpabakuna during those three national vaccination days. So ganoon po iyong logic behind the decision.

MELA LESMORAS/PTV4: Opo. Pero, sir, sa government side, handang-handa na po ba tayo? All set na po ba, iyong mga vaccines po ba natin ay naka-deploy na sa iba’t ibang lugar?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Opo. Lahat po, iyong deployment, lahat ng assignments, lahat ng tasking at responsibilities down to the regional level at pakikipag-ugnayan po natin sa mga LGUs ay napaghandaan na po nating lahat. Nag-meeting na naman kami sa IATF kahapon to, again, emphasize and remind. At sa araw na ito and sa susunod pang mga araw na naiiwan before the November 29 ay patuloy pa rin iyong ating pagtutok, pag-monitor, pag-remind at ang patuloy naming panawagan sa lahat na hindi pa nagpabakuna, kailangan magpabakuna. Let’s take advantage of the three days ng National Vaccination Days para magpabakuna na.

Yes, back to Usec. Rocky.

USEC. IGNACIO: Thank you, Secretary. From Mela Lesmoras pa rin po and Llanesca Panti: What is the Palace message daw po to China who is asking the Philippine government to remove BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Nagsalita na po si Secretary Lorenzana tungkol sa isyu na iyan. So iyong sinabi po ni Secretary Lorenzana, I believe, is already sufficient.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Iyong tanong po ni Jopel Pelenio ng DWIZ, natanong na po ni Mela Lesmoras. From Rosalie Coz ng UNTV: Ano po ang masasabi ng Malacañang sa umano’y commitment ng Pilipinas na alisin ang BRP Sierra Madre? May ganito bang pangako ang Duterte administration sa China? Ano po ang reaksiyon ng Palasyo sa demand ng China na alisin ang BRP?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Alam ninyo, paulit-ulit namang binabalikan lagi ni Pangulong Duterte sa mga summits, pati na rin sa pagsalita niya sa United Nations, binabalik-balikan natin lagi iyong UNCLOS at iyong arbitral award. So doon po, napakaliwanag po na kabilang po iyan sa ating EEZ; kabilang po iyan sa ating teritoryo, at we will fully exercise our sovereign rights over our territory.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Second question po niya: Ano raw po ang masasabi sa suggestion ni Senator Lacson na reinforce or refurbish ang BRP Sierra Madre? Bakit kayo sang-ayon o ‘di sang-ayon dito?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Patuloy naman tayo sa pag-i-implement natin ng ating AFP modernization. So sa patuloy nating pag-implement ng ating AFP modernization, kasama po diyan ang ating mga naval assets.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Iyong third question po niya ay nasagot ninyo na po, Secretary.

Alvin Baltazar po ng PBS Radyo Pilipinas: Kumusta po ang response ng governor and mayor sa naging appeal ni Pangulong Duterte sa kanila na iyong mga magpapabakuna sa dalawang kilalang fast-food chains na magiging vaccination sites din ay baka puwede pong diretsong kain na after ng bakuna?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Actually, diyan sa sinabi ni Pangulo, actually kabilang naman po iyan sa mga incentives na we try to, as much as possible, incentivize ‘no as much as possible para maengganyo sila na magpabakuna. But operationally, pagdating po sa ground, it’s really up to the mayors, governors on how they will implement iyong pag-incentivize.

Ngayon, mayroon din po tayong mga private sector partners na nag-o-offer ng kanilang mga lugar as vaccination sites para hindi na po hassle for the public. At para mas maraming vaccination sites, mas magiging madali at mas ma-maintain natin ang social distancing kapag mas marami tayong vaccination sites. So lahat po iyan ay kabilang at kasama dito sa mga plano, sa action plan, sa pag-draw out natin ng national vaccination days natin.

So on the ground, it’s really up to the mayors and governors on how they will put this into operation, lahat ng mga nasa framework at lahat nang na-draw up natin sa ating action plan. And of course, the private sector is welcome to support us all the more.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Iyong second question ni Alvin Baltazar ay nasagot ninyo na rin po, Secretary. Ang third question niya: Do we expect the President to have his booster shot on Monday doon sa lugar na pupuntahan niya para sa National Vaccination Day?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Well, we still await ano iyong magiging advice ng kaniyang personal physician.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. From Trish Terada ng CNN Philippines: South Africa has detected daw po a new variant. While its implications are unclear, how will this development affect our border control protocols? What will the government do to prevent its entry or minimize its impact in case daw po it has gotten in? Similar question din po ni Argyll Geducos ng Manila Bulletin, Rosalie Coz ng UNTV at Kristina Maralit ng Tribune at ni Maricel Halili po ng TV5.

CABSEC NOGRALES: Opo. Patuloy pa rin iyong ating pakikipag-ugnayan sa WHO ‘no, and we await any advisory coming from the WHO especially kung idi-declare ba itong variant of interest or variant of concern. Pero that being said, nakatutok naman po tayo, ang DOH, ang IATF dito sa concern na iyan. We are monitoring any developments on the ground; patuloy pa rin ang ating genomic surveillance.

So abangan na lang po natin. This is a new development and we continue to actively monitor the situation.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Second question po niya: Will the IATF tighten restrictions for children? If yes, what prompted that decision?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Again, if you look at our resolutions ‘no, the latest resolutions, itong mga bagong resolutions ng IATF, makikita natin diyan na ini-emphasize po talaga natin na, number one, everybody must comply with the minimum public health standards particularly iyong pagsuot ng face mask; number two, pagdating sa establishments, establishments have a right, in fact, an obligation and responsibility na huwag papasukin iyong hindi makapagsuot ng face mask. LGUs are mandated to implement and ensure the implementation of the same.

Tayo, mga Pilipino, mga magulang, guardians, adults, siyempre responsibilidad natin iyan ‘no pagdating sa ating mga anak, pagdating sa mga menor de edad. Kapag hindi kayang magsuot ng face mask dahil bata, talagang menor de edad, talagang at a very young age, huwag nating dalhin sa closed, crowded places. Huwag na nating pilitin because itong mga patakaran na ito, ginagawa natin para sa kaligtasan po ng lahat.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Question po ni Pia Gutierrez ng ABS-CBN: Hong Kong recently monitored two confirmed cases of the new South African variant. Hong Kong is a green list territory. Ano po ang planong gawin ng IATF tungkol dito?

CABSEC NOGRALES: We are actively monitoring any and all developments with regard to this concern particularly siyempre iyong pakikipag-ugnayan na rin po natin sa WHO.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Follow up question po ni Maricel Halili ng TV5: Will the government impose stricter travel restrictions for those coming from South Africa and neighboring countries following the discovery of a new variant?

CABSEC NOGRALES: We are actively monitoring any developments and if kinakailangan ng agaran, immediate action ay gagawin po ng IATF.

USEC IGNACIO: Opo. Second question po niya: Can the government afford to lower the alert level in NCR this December despite the discovery of the new variant?

CABSEC NOGRALES: Iyong alert level systems, mayroon po tayong mga parameters po diyan. So susundin natin iyong parameters ‘no. And kagaya nang na-announce ko na sa latest IATF resolution po natin, kapag kinakailangang i-escalate, i-escalate agad ‘no – very clear po iyan sa ating resolution. Iyong de-escalation, gagawin natin every 15th and end of the month. Iyong ating pag-monitor din kung anong alert level system ang bawat area, we do it weekly. But in terms of escalation, kung kinakailangan ASAP, ASAP agad iyan.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. From Johnna Villaviray ng Asahi Manila: What did the President speak about in his intervention at the Asia-Europe Meeting or ASEM Summit? Did he raise the Ayungin Shoal attack to highlight the need for greater multilateral cooperation to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea?

SEC. NOGRALES: Malacañang will issue a statement immediately after the conclusion of the event.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Question from Celerina Monte ng NHK, ganoon din po ni Jerome ng Reuters. Clarification daw po sa entry ng foreigners: Why is it only December 15, 2021?

SEC. NOGRALES: That is a good question. This is something that we are doing step by step. So, ang inilabas na resolusyon ng IATF is hanggang December 15. But if we—upon the implementation of this nang December 1, siyempre imo-monitor natin, we will make proper adjustments kung kinakailangan while we are monitoring its implementation on the ground and if we will extend it, we will extend it.

So, right now, the IATF is just prepared to release a resolution that says up to December 15. Pero kapag nakita naman po natin na maganda ang implementation nito ay i-extend natin iyong dates.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. From Julie Aurelio ng Philippine Daily Inquirer: May I ask for the Palace reaction on the coalition of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte-Carpio with the ex-President Arroyo and Estrada’s political forces. Does President Duterte feel threatened or intimidated by this consolidation of forces by his daughter and ex-Senator Marcos?

SEC. NOGRALES: That’s a political exercise, and parties are free to do what they think they should do basta well within the parameters of our elections laws.

USEC. IGNACIO: Opo. Question from Dario Agnote of Xinhua: Kasama daw po ba iyong tourist sa mga foreigners from non-visa countries? At ang tanong naman po ni Jerome ng Reuters: For tourist lang ba iyong fully vaccinated foreigners?

SEC. NOGRALES: Opo. Let’s give it to Dana.

BI SPOX SANDOVAL: Yes, CabSec, good afternoon. Starting po December 1, yes, iyong mga tourist po coming from the green list countries within the last 14 days ay kailangan po, very particular tayo doon, kailangan doon sila sa green list countries nanggaling within the last 14 days, puwede pong pumasok. So, iyong EO 408 po, kasi iyan ang nagsasabi po na sila po ay visa-free, puwede po silang pumasok dito. These are 157 countries/nationalities that may enter. But kailangan po nanggaling po sila doon sa 44 na green list countries.

USEC. IGNACIO: Ms. Dana, may tanong po ni Vanz Fernandez: With the reopening daw po of a lot of economic activities in the country in the past month, what does the Bureau of Immigration project of outgoing Filipino travel? Is there an expected projection of increased numbers of people immigrating out of the country for things such as work, vacation?

BI SPOX SANDOVAL: Actually, overall, bumaba iyong movement ng people in and out of the country during the pandemic. But slowly, as the economy recovers and then pati iyong mga other countries ay unti-unti pong nag-o-open ng kanilang mga borders. We are seeing move movement of people both coming in and out of the country. So, siguro by the end of the year or early next year, mas makakakita tayo ng higher figures than the ones that we have seen for 2020.

USEC. IGNACIO: Secretary Nograles, iyong tanong po ni JP Soriano ng GMA News, about Ayungin Shoal at China issue ay nasagot na rin po ninyo.

SEC. NOGRALES: Opo.

USEC. IGNACIO: Secretary Nograles, salamat po. Thank you, Ms. Dana. And thank you, MPC.

SEC. NOGRALES: Thank you very much, USec. Rocky. And we’d also want to thank Dana Krizia Sandoval ng Bureau of Immigration.

Mga kababayan, sa kabila ng maraming hamon at tagumpay, nananatili ang pangangailangan para sa pinagkaisang adhikain para sa paghilom at pagbangon ng bayan. Hanggang ngayon nananatili ang ating panawagan: Kailangan nating magtulungan.

Maraming salamat po. Ingat po lagi. God Bless and have a happy weekend po.

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News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center