The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has approved the re-opening of review centers, fitness centers, and internet cafes in areas under General Community Quarantine (GQC), Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez said on Wednesday.
Starting August 1, the services will be allowed to re-open at 30 percent operating capacity, Lopez told DZMM Teleradyo.
“Itong mga activites na isinama natin ngayon at dapat sa modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) sila, subalit di po tayo umaabot sa MGCQ kaya ito po ay mga ni-reconsider para maisama sa GCQ, para lang makapagbukas (Originally, these activities are just allowed in areas under MGCQ, but since we are not reaching the GCQ status, we reconsidered it for areas under GCQ, just so we can open some of the businesses),” Lopez said.
“Ang mindset ng buong IATF ay tulungan ang mga residente at i-reopen ang economy at saka madagdagan ang mga trabaho, ang mga workers makabalik na (IATF’s mindset is to help residents, reopen the economy, and to allow more workers to go back to their jobs),” the DTI chief added.
Lopez said the DTI might increase the operating capacity of testing and review centers, fitness centers, and internet cafes to 50 percent if they receive a good compliance rate from the establishments after two to three weeks.
The DTI secretary reiterated that internet cafes will be re-opened for education purposes.
Lopez said the DTI will soon issue a memorandum circular to the local government units on the matter.
When asked if the National Capital Region will revert back to a stricter quarantine measure, Lopez said the economic team is for the gradual re-opening of the economy with localized lockdowns.
“In fact, it may not be barangay. It could be building or a street kung saan talaga nag-kumpol ang mga may sakit (where there are clusters of cases),” Lopez said.
Read more: DTI to recommend reopening internet cafes in GCQ areas