UPDATE 1-Philippines urges virus vigilance after lowest cases in 8 weeks

* COVID-19 problem far from over - official
* Daily average cases decline
* Philippines has the most infections in SE Asia
* Flattening of curve easily reversed, expert warns

(Recasts, adds details, comments throughout)
By Neil Jerome Morales and Karen Lema
MANILA, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The Philippines reported its
lowest number of new daily coronavirus cases in nearly eight
weeks on Monday, but officials sought to temper optimism and
warned of a prolonged battle as the pandemic rages on.
The health ministry confirmed 1,383 new infections, bringing
total cases to 238,727, the highest in Southeast Asia, but the
least since July 14. It reported 15 new deaths, taking total
fatalities to 3,890.
Officials warned against complacency as the economy reopens.
"This challenge of COVID-19 could extend to next year. First
of all, we cannot be complacent and ignore the threat," Vivencio
Dizon, who leads the government's testing programme, told a news
conference.
Only three-quarters of testing laboratories submitted
results on Monday, however, less than the 82% average in the
past week.
The Philippines from mid-March to June imposed one of the
world's strictest lockdowns, during which new daily cases were
reported in the low hundreds. But infections started soaring
soon after, as authorities eased restrictions in a bid to revive
the country's troubled economy.
The capital and nearby provinces are still under coronavirus
restrictions until end-September, limiting the movement of
non-essential personnel and banning social gatherings to prevent
more infections. International travel and movement between
regions remains restricted.
"We are in the process of flattening the curve but this
process can easily be reversed," Ranjit Rye, a University of the
Philippines professor and part of a research group whose
projections and recommendations have guided the government's
lockdown measures.
"The government should not overestimate this achievement and
underestimate the virus," Rye told Reuters, adding that the
improvement in testing, contact tracing and isolation should
continue.