The government will allow indoor dining at 10 percent seating capacity and 30 percent capacity for personal care services such as beauty salons and barbershops under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
In a statement on Thursday, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the recommendation of the Metro Manila Council as well as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to allow more establishments to operate in MECQ areas.
Restaurants, eateries, commissaries and other food preparation establishments can resume indoor dine-in services in MECQ areas at an initial 10 percent venue or seating capacity.
Also allowed to operate in MECQ areas are beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops and nail spas at an initial 30 percent venue or seating capacity.
“Personal care establishments and services not mentioned above shall not be allowed to operate,” he added.
He said personal care establishments could be allowed to exceed the 30 percent limit provided they comply with Joint Memorandum Circular No. 21-01 (s.2021) or the Safety Seal Certification Program.
The easing of business restrictions in MECQ areas are expected to allow more workers to return to work.
DTI estimated at least 400,000 employees in the personal care industry are expected to benefit with the relaxed rules.
The new rules will take effect starting on Saturday, when the new community quarantine classifications will take effect.
Duterte earlier announced that Metro Manila, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, and Cavite will still remain under MECQ from May 1 to May 14, 2021.
In the case of the City of Santiago, Quirino and the province of Abra, both will remain under MECQ from May 1 to 31, 2021.
The said areas were placed under MECQ amid the surge in new Covid-19 cases nationwide last month.
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