The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has further relaxed restrictions on allowed capacity of certain establishments, including dine-in services, personal care services, has resumed meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) events at limited capacity in NCR Plus.
The DTI issued Advisory 21-09 series of 2021 outlining the increase in on-site operational capacity of certain business establishments and activities in areas under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions.
The NCR Plus (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Pateros) has been placed anew under GCQ with heightened restrictions until June 15.
Under the DTI’s advisory, food preparation establishments such as commissaries, restaurants and eateries may now allow 30 percent of their capacity for indoor dine-in services, compared to previous 20 percent limitation. Capacity for outdoor dining remains at 50 percent.
Personal care services, including beauty salons, barbershops, medical aesthetic clinics, nail spa and other similar establishments, may now accommodate up to 40 percent of their capacity, compared to the previous 30 percent limit.
The DTI has now allowed MICE events in eligible venue establishments with a 30 percent capacity restriction, while social events in the same establishments shall be allowed up to 10 percent of the venue capacity.
Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez earlier said that they are looking forward to expanding the operating capacity of establishments this month as fewer businesses have remained closed amid easing of lockdown protocols.
Lopez said transitioning to GCQ allowed more business activities while implementing the safety protocols. This is why non-essential activities are still discouraged to avoid Covid-19 surge anew, Lopez said.
“Inaasahan din natin na…dadagdagan ang mga operating capacity moving forward dahil sa magandang numero [We are also expecting that operating capacity will be expanded moving forward because of the good numbers],” Lopez said last week.
The trade chief explained that fewer establishments have remained closed in the pandemic with the easing of the mobility restrictions.
Currently, about 8 percent are not operating, Lopez said. This is lower compared to when 16 percent halted business activities around March and April during the enhanced community quarantine, he added.
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