By Fernan Angeles
WITH confirmed cases of the deadly virus from Wuhan, China on a sustained surge, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is pushing to open up the economy further amid the COVID-19 pandemic by allowing several businesses to operate at full capacity under general community quarantine (GCQ).
In a radio interview, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said that several sectors operating at 50 percent capacity under GCQ will be recommended to be allowed up to 100 percent.
“Ngayon isina-suggest natin pwede nang i-100 percent. Anyway ito ‘yung mga safe na mga trabaho at wala tayong nakikitang transmission dito dahil mahigpit pa rin ang minimum health standard enforcement natin,” Lopez said.
Among those whom Lopez wanted to operate at full capacity include:
• Money exchange, insurance, lending companies, pension funding
• Legal and accounting
• Management consultancy
• Architecture and engineering activities
• Science and research and development
• Advertising and market research
• Computer programming
• Publishing and printing
• Film, music, and TV production
• Recruitment and placement agencies for overseas employment
• Photography services
• Fashion, industrial, graphic, interior design
• Wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles
“Mga tindahan sa mall na dati naka 50 percent [like] hardware, clothing, bookstore, etc… So lahat ng nasa mall na ni-limit ng 50 percent puwede na ring mag-operate ng 100%,” Lopez said.
Sought for explanation, Lopez said that the proposal is aimed at increasing the number of workers allowed to report to work, therefore further reopening the economy.
For food establishments’ dine-in services, the Lopez said that the local government units may determine how many percent increase in capacity they will allow.
The DTI is also suggesting to extend the operating hours of dine-in services beyond the curfew period to allow those in graveyard shift to have somewhere to eat.