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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 13) – More establishments have been allowed to resume operations starting May 16 as Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cebu City are placed under a “modified” enhanced community quarantine.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. announced Wednesday a list of industries which have been cleared to reopen on partial operations by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, as they hope to gradually reopen the economy after a two-month shutdown.
As a general rule, all offices that will reopen must adhere to safety protocols, including one-meter distancing between employees, the wearing of face masks, and temperature checks.
Barbershops, salons, and other facial care services shall remain disallowed even in areas under general community quarantine, contrary to earlier pronouncements that these establishments may open their doors after May 15.
Malls and commercial centers have also been allowed to open even under modified ECQ areas, but only for purchases in non-leisure stores.
Government offices have also been allowed to reopen in GCQ areas, but are encouraged to employ alternative work arrangements like a four-day workweek.
RELATED: Gyms still closed, but some outdoor exercises allowed in areas under ‘modified’ ECQ
Roque said authorities want the private sector to embrace work-from-home arrangements as the “norm” as the threat of COVID-19 continues to hound the country.
The previous list presented in late April also included gambling and betting activities as well as political and business-related mass gatherings in the prohibited sectors under all quarantine areas. However, these activities were removed from the updated list.
The government is looking to jumpstart the economy after a two-month lull, with overall output expected to shrink by at least 2 percent this year with the pandemic seen to have cost about ₱ 2 trillion in lost opportunities.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said in an interview that some 14.6 million workers have been cleared to return to work under the new quarantine rules taking effect Saturday – including 1 million workers in Metro Manila, the country’s main financial hub. He warned that the economy likely shrunk by 7 percent in the previous weeks under lockdown.
“Baka hindi na po kayanin ng ating gobyerno ang isa pang extension kasi kukulangin tayo ng pera at ang ekonomiya ay baka humina sa isang lebel na mas mahirap, na mas malaki ang kakailanganin for ibangon ito [We might not be able to afford another extension (of the lockdown) because we wouldn’t have the money to cover it and the economy might collapse to a level that will be too costly and challenging to rebuild], “Salceda told CNN Philippines’ Balitaan.
Here’s the list approved by the IATF during its Tuesday afternoon meeting:
Banned in all ECQ and GCQ areas:
– Barbershops and salons: under review by the Department of Trade and Industry
– Gyms, fitness studios and sports facilities
– Entertainment industries: theaters, cinemas, karaoke bars
– Kid amusement industries: playrooms, rides
– Libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural activities
– Tourist destinations
– Travel agency, tour operator, reservation service and related activities
– Personal care services: massage parlors, sauna, facial care, waxing
Sectors allowed in areas under modified ECQ and GCQ areas:
– Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
– Manufacturing of essential goods: food and beverages (only non-alcoholic drinks), hygiene products, medicines and vitamins, medical products (masks, PPEs), pet food, feeds, fertilizers
– Hospitals and clinics: non-aesthetic procedures for dermatological, dental, optometric, and eye, ear, nose, throat
– Essential retail stores like groceries, supermarkets, hypermarkets, drug stores
– Laundry shops, including self-service
– Food preparation and water refilling stations: takeout and delivery only
– Logistics service providers: cargo handling, warehousing, trucking, freight forwarding, and shipping lines
– Delivery services
– Utilities: power, energy water, telecommunications aircon, water collection and supply, waste management, sewerage (pest control, garbage collection, etc. except tank emptying)
– Repair and installation of machinery and equipment
– Telecommunications companies
– Energy companies and third party contractors for transmission, distribution, maintenance, retail, exploration, operations, trading and deliver of raw materials
– Gasoline stations
– Construction workers accredited by DPWH for facilities for healthcare and for risk reduction
– Manufacturing companies and suppliers of products necessary for construction
– Media establishments
– Other manufacturing: 50 percent capacity onsite under MECQ
– Cement and steel
– Mining and quarrying
– E-commerce companies
– Postal, courier, delivery services
– Export-oriented companies: with point-to-point shuttles in ECQ and MECQ areas
– Real estate activities: leasing is allowed but at 50 percent capacity onsite in MECQ areas
– Essential and priority public and private construction projects, including ‘Build, Build, Build’: small-scale projects not allowed under modified ECQ, limited to 50 peercent onsite capacity
– Repair of computers and personal and household goods
– Housing service activities
– Office administrative and office support: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Special purpose accommodation for healthcare workers, OFWs, workers in permitted sectors, and non-OFWs with mandated quarantine
– Accommodation for guests: 50 percent maximum capacity, can only cater for long-term bookings as of May 1 in Luzon
– Funeral and embalming services: 50 percent capacity in MECQ areas
– Veterinary clinics: 50 percent capacity in MECQ areas
– Security and investigation services: 50 percent capacity in MECQ areas
– Business process outsourcing companies: work from home, on-site accommodation, shuttle services
– Banks, money transfer services, pawnshops, microfinance institutions
– Capital markets
– Other financial services: money exchange, insurance, reinsurance, non-compulsory pension funding: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Legal and accounting, management consultancy activities, architecture and engineering activities, scientific and research development: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Advertising and market research: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Computer programming: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Publishing and printing activities: newspapers, books, printing on textiles and glass: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Film, music, TV production: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Rental and leasing of vehicles, equipment for permitted sectors
– Employment activities: recruitment and placement for permitted sectors
– Other activities (photography, fashion, industrial, graphic, interior design): 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Non-leisure stores in malls and commercial centers: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Dining and restaurants (no dine-in): 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Hardware stores: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Clothing and accessories: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Mall-based government frontline services: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Bookstores, school and office supplies stores: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Baby care supplies stores, pet food and pet care supplies: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Flower, jewelry, novelty, antique, perfume shops: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– IT, communications, electronic equipment: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ
– Toy stores: 50 percent onsite capacity under MECQ, playgrounds and amusement areas must be closed
Banned in ECQ areas only:
– Manufacturing of non-essential goods
– Office administrative and office support
– Public and private construction projects
– Other financial services
– Legal and accounting, management consultancy activities, architecture and engineering activities, scientific and research development
– Advertising and market research
– Computer programming
– Publishing and printing activities: newspapers, books, printing on textiles and glass
– Film, music, TV production
– Other activities: photography, fashion, industrial, graphic, interior design
– Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles
– Malls and commercial centers
– Government offices under alternative work arrangements, four-day workweek
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