(File photo) MANILA - The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has approved a recommendation to retain the National Capital Region (NCR) under Alert Level 2 status until the end of February, Malacanang said Monday. In a statement, Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said aside from Metro Manila, other areas will also be placed under Alert Level 2 from February 16 to 28. Areas in Luzon under Alert Level 2 are Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan in Region 1 (Ilocos); Batanes, City of Santiago, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley); Bulacan, Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales in Region 3 (Central Luzon); Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, Laguna, Lucena City and Quezon Province in Region