(UPDATED) PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte approved Thursday, November 11, the nationwide implementation of the Alert Level System (ALS) for Covid-19 response in the country.

In Executive Order (EO) 115, Duterte said the nationwide shift to the ALS would allow the “reinvigoration of the country through the opening of more sectors, while protecting the people’s health through the continuous observance of public health protocols and interventions,” as well as the heightened implementation of granular lockdowns.

The government clarified that the ALS will be undertaken in four phases.

The first phase will include the pilot areas where the ALS has already been implemented as of November 11, 2021.

Under Phase 1 are the National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Davao Region.

Phase 2 covers Ilocos, Eastern Visayas and Soccsksargen.

Under Phase 3 are Cagayan Valley, Bicol and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Phase 4 will be implemented in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Mimaropa, Caraga and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm).

Malacañang said the Phase 2 may begin at any time after the effectivity of EO 115, as may be determined by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), but not later than the end of November 2021.

“The succeeding phases shall then commence every week thereafter until full nationwide implementation,” EO 115 stated.

Duterte tasked the IATF to amend or modify the guidelines set for the implementation of the ALS.

He said pending the full nationwide implementation of the new system, the Omnibus Guidelines for the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines, which were approved through EO 112, series of 2020, will remain in effect in all areas not yet placed under the ALS.

The President asked for the cooperation and assistance of all government agencies and local government units, including state colleges and universities, government-owned- and -controlled corporations and financial institutions to ensure that all the necessary resources are mobilized.

"EO 112 shall be repealed once all areas of the country are placed under the ALS. All other orders, rules, regulations and issuances, or part thereof, which are inconsistent with this Order are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly," the EO 115 added. (SunStar Philippines)