On Thursday, May 7, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez said that roughly 94% of economic activities in the Philippines will open under a general community quarantine (GCQ).
However, Secretary Lopez noted that companies are still advised to implement work-from-home arrangements despite a majority of economic activities will be permitted to return under GCQ.
“The criteria for this is (that) the risk in operating when it comes to transmission, is high,” explained Secretary Lopez in a television interview.
The other 6% of economic activities that are not allowed to operate even under a GCQ guideline are classified with the label “Category 4”. These economic activities and operations are deemed as too risky to re-open. This is mostly due to requiring mass gatherings which would thus make physical distancing too difficult to implement and enforce.
Establishments that fall under Category 4 include:
1) Casinos and other gambling activities
2) Resorts
3) Beaches
4) Travel agencies
5) Tour operators
6) Libraries
7) Museums
8) Art galleries
9) Botanical and zoological gardens
10) Water parks
11) Massage Spas
12) Sauna baths
13) Facial and foot spas
14) Waxing salons
15) Other amusement and leisure places.
Various parts of the Philippines have been under GCQ since the beginning of May. Yet, enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is extended until May 15 in:
1) Metro Manila
2) Central Luzon
3) Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon)
4) Pangasinan
5) Benguet
6) Iloilo
7) Cebu
Minimum health protocols for businesses that will re-open under the GCQ have been issued by the DTI and the Department of Labor and Employment such as companies being required to test employees who are sick or are suspected of having COVID-19. Other health protocols that must be implemented by establishments for their workplace include:
1) Wearing face masks
2) Observing physical distancing
3) Regular disinfection process
4) Constant checking of temperature
5) Submission of a daily health symptoms questionnaire
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Read the Department of Trade and Industry’s advisory which was released on May 5 on “Business Establishments or Activities Allowed to Operate in Areas Declared Under ECQ and GCQ Pursuant to the Omnibus Guidelines on Community Quarantine as Confirmed and Adopted by the President Under EO. 112 s. 2020” here https://www.dti.gov.ph/advisories/mc2022.
