The easing of the mobility restriction in the National Capital Region (NCR) to Alert Level (AL) 3 would result in the resumption of work of at least 300,000 Filipinos, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Thursday.
“With most of the remaining economic sectors, particularly the service sectors to be reopened in [Metro Manila], and at higher operating capacities because also of the de-escalation to Alert Level 3, we expect most of the balance [of] 300T [300,000] displaced workers to be back to work,” Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez told reporters on Thursday.
Despite the anticipated increase in people at work, Lopez, however, said the total number of workers has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic level.
“Not yet pre-pandemic. More of similar to a GCQ [general community quarantine] of before. [Because] it’s not yet 100 percent of pre-pandemic. But a lot better than an ECQ [enhanced community quarantine] situation,” he said.
Lopez noted that the government needs a new survey to determine the rate of closed establishments given the additional establishments and activities now allowed in NCR.
“But the best case under GCQ before was about 4 percent closed,” he added.
Lopez added that the number of workers in the remaining prohibited sectors/activities in the NCR is “minimal” or about less than 100,000.
“Remaining closed sectors would be the places with live entertainment/karaoke bars, kids amusement centers, playgrounds,” he said.
The government will place the NCR under Alert level 3, a notch lower than its previous classification, starting October 16 until October 31.
With the new classification, more businesses in NCR may resume operations, while others may expand their capacities.
Based on the new guidelines released by Malacañang, businesses and activities allowed in NCR can now have an indoor capacity of up to 30 percent for fully vaccinated individuals and a maximum of 50 percent for outdoor venue capacity.
Businesses and activities allowed in the NCR include religious gatherings, dine-in services, personal care establishments, fitness studios, gyms, film, music and TV production.