The recent easing of lockdown measures in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces is seen to trim some losses the economy suffered after the imposition of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Thursday.
During the Laging Handa briefing on Thursday, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said that loosening the mobility restrictions may allow the economy to recover “somewhere between about to P2 billion to P30 billion,” which is the estimated loss earlier this year.
The trade chief based the figures from the estimates of the National Economic and Development Authority, which previously said that the two-week ECQ beginning March 29 resulted in P30-billion income loss.
Last week, the NCR Plus, comprising Metro Manila, Laguna, Bulacan, Rizal and Cavite, was placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) “with heightened restrictions” from May 15 to 31.
“Definitely, the movement towards the GCQ…though with heightened restrictions, this in a way will still help us on the way back to recovery,” Lopez said.
“There are other sectors that were reopened. These are leading to bringing back more jobs,” he added.
Based on the DTI Memorandum Circular 21-19, restaurants in NCR Plus under GCQ will be allowed to have 20-percent capacity for indoor dine-in services and 50-percent capacity for outdoor dining.
Personal care services, including beauty salons, barbershops, medical aesthetic clinics, nail spa and other similar establishments, may accommodate up to 30 percent of their capacity.
At 10-percent seating capacity, limited social events at accredited establishments of the Department of Tourism (DOT) will be allowed under GCQ. These events should be “only ceremonial proceedings consistent with the rules on religious gatherings shall be conducted, subject to the applicable DOT/DTI guidelines,” the circular reads.
With strict adherence to minimum health protocols, outdoor tourist attractions may also operate at 30 percent.
Meanwhile, the order still prohibits venues for meetings, incentives, conference and exhibition (MICE), indoor sports venues and indoor tourist attractions under GCQ.
The Trade department said it will continue to monitor the strict compliance of the establishments with the circular. Inspection can also be done by the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Health and the local government units.
“Violations of this circular shall be subject to corresponding penalties under relevant rules and guidelines including the temporary suspension of business operations as may be necessary and applicable,” it added.
Currently, Lopez said that the application for the Safety Seal Certification Program is ongoing.
Securing a Safety Seal, he explained, signifies that an establishment follows the health protocols and uses digital contact-tracing application.
“Through the Safety Seal certification, the government aims to increase public confidence in businesses at this time of the pandemic,” the Trade chief said during its launch last month.
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