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The government will allow full capacity operation of commercial activities in 17 sectors, from mining and construction to film production and pet stores, in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) as part of its efforts to rebuild the Philippine economy. , the Department of Commerce and Industry (DTI) announced on Friday.
In his Circular Memorandum No. 20-52, Commerce Secretary Ramón López said there was an increasing need to “provide stability to businesses, revive the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and address the number growing unemployment, poverty and the incidence of hunger in the country. “
The new guidelines for the memorandum will take effect upon the publication and filing of the circular at the University of the Philippines Law Center.
“The DTI is authorized by the IATF (Interinstitutional Working Group for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) to adjust the operational capacity of the companies,” said López, when asked if the circular still needed approval.
LOSS OF BUSINESS LIFE Wearing masks and face shields and keeping a good distance, crowds return to a shopping mall in Manila whose stores have begun to reopen as the government relaxes restrictions on businesses in order to revive the economy . —RICHARD A. REYES
100% workmanship
Aside from mining and quarrying, those that will be allowed to operate with 100 percent of their workforce include financial services other than banks, such as currency exchange, insurance, reinsurance and loan companies; legal and accounting; management consulting; architecture and engineering; technical tests and analysis; scientific and research development; advertising and market research; computer programming, information services and related activities; and publishing and printing services.
In addition to government or construction projects, film, music, and television production were also allowed; hiring employment for abroad; “Other” services, such as photography, fashion, industrial, graphic and interior design; wholesale and retail trade of vehicles; repair of motor vehicles, including car washes; non-recreational activities in malls and shopping centers; and non-leisure wholesalers and retailers.
The last category covers hardware stores; Clothes and accessories; bookstores and school and office supplies; child care supplies; pet stores, pet food and pet care supplies; information technology, communications and electronic equipment; floristry, jewelry, novelty, antiques, perfumeries; toy stores, except their playgrounds and amusement areas; Music stores; art galleries (sale only); and trade in firearms and ammunition.
López said that based on regular monitoring activities carried out by DTI, the companies on the new list covered in his memorandum had not been able to fully operate under GCQ but were found to “comply with minimum public health and safety protocols.”
The DTI also considered the Health Department’s assessment that more time was now needed for the number of COVID-19 cases to double in locations under GCQ and that the rate of use of critical care facilities had decreased.
The DTI will also allow hair salons and salons to operate at up to 75 percent of their capacity, but “subject to strict physical distancing.”
Dinner services in restaurants and fast food establishments are now allowed at more than 50 percent of capacity, also with strict physical distancing.
Home delivery services
Food and delivery services “shall operate up to 24 hours a day, to the extent possible, to increase additional operational requirements and serve the needs of the public, while improving income opportunities for workers,” Lopez said. .
At the onset of the pandemic, the government, through the IATF, adopted guidelines that classified various industries based on the degree to which business establishments could operate under different degrees of community quarantine: enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), modified ECQ, GCQ and modified GCQ.
The Omnibus Guidelines for Community Quarantine Implementation list which industries – or sub-industries in agriculture, manufacturing, and services – could operate at full capacity, partial capacity, or not at all.
Industries or economic activities were prioritized and categorized according to whether their production was essential. Therefore, facilities dedicated to health services were allowed to operate fully even under ECQ. Others not considered essential, such as hairdressers and beauty salons, are only allowed a partial operation even under GCQ.
The primary consideration has been the risk of infection, not the number of people a business employs.
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