MANILA - Malacanang is elated over the country's jump from 103rd to 57th in the Nikkei Covid-19 Recovery Index based on infection, control, vaccination, and mobility. Acting Presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles welcomed the result, noting that this is 46 spots higher compared to the country's ranking in October when it placed 103rd among 120 countries. "As we previously stated, rankings such as these should factor-in country-specific Covid-19 context. Our 121st September and 103rd October rankings were done when the Philippines was experiencing a spike of cases brought about by the Delta variant," Nograles said in a Palace press briefing. "This latest Nikkei Covid-19 Recovery Index is a clear indication that we have successfully contained the highly-transmissible Delta variant," he added. Nograles, also Cabinet Secretary, renewed the Palace call for people to remain vigilant, especially during the holiday season by practicing minimum public health standards such as wearing of face masks, washing of hands, maintaining distance, and getting vaccinated against Covid-19. "Totoo po (It's true), we can see the light at the end of the tunnel but the only way we can get to the end is if we continue to carefully watch our steps," he said. Asked if there is a chance for the country to downgrade to the lowest Alert Level 1 despite the looming Omicron variant of Covid-19, Nograles said the country's Covid-19 task force is still assessing findings from the World Health Organization (WHO). "Well, we are monitoring Omicron very closely at inaabangan din po namin kung ano iyong magiging final findings mula sa WHO at mula sa ating mga health experts internationally as well...If it [Omicron] is more fatal, if it is more severe, if it is indeed more transmissible. Samantalang pina-finalize din po namin ano iyong magiging final parameters natin for Alert Level 1 (and we are waiting for final findings from the WHO and our health experts internationally on whether the new variant is more fatal, more severe, and more transmissible. We are also finalizing the final parameters for Alert Level 1)," he said. Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) will be meeting on Thursday to discuss possible changes to the country's alert levels. "We will discuss that in the IATF this coming Thursday kasi (because) the IATF necessarily being inter-agency, we have to get the inputs from the different Cabinet members and from the different agencies and departments also of government then we'll come up with a consensus decision," he added. Metro Manila and most areas in the country are currently under Alert Level 2 until December 15 amid the emergence of the new Omicron variant. On Monday, the country recorded 543 new Covid-19 cases, marking the eighth straight day that it tallied fewer than 700 new cases. Beating hunger Meanwhile, Nograles welcomed the Philippines' improved ranking in the 2021 Global Hunger Index with a score of 16.8 compared to 25.0 in year 2000, 20.4 in 2006, and 20.5 in 2012. The Global Hunger Index uses four indicators namely undernourishment, child wasting, child stunting, child mortality. Citing the report, Nograles said the Philippines now ranks 8th among the 21 economies in South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. He said laws such as Republic Act 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, a national feeding program for undernourished children, and RA 11148 or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, which provides proper maternal and child health care program to prevent stunted growth of children, have had an impact in addressing the areas of concern cited by the Global Hunger Index. Nograles said the Palace is also encouraged by the results of the third quarter 2021 Social Weather Station's (SWS) survey which show a decline of Filipino families experiencing involuntary hunger which dropped from a high of 30.7 percent in September of 2020 to 10 percent in September of 2021 or a decrease of 20.7 percent from the same period last year. "The current figures are likewise the lowest registered during the pandemic. Malinaw po ang palatandaan nito (This is a clear indicator that) the strategies we have in place and the interventions being undertaken by your government are working," he said. Amid the prevailing health crisis, the Duterte government is currently balancing between the management of Covid-19 and the safe reopening of the economy. The government aims to inoculate at least 54 million Filipinos by the end of December this year to achieve population protection. (PNA) }