Internet cafes and sports facilities are now allowed to operate in Manila City starting September 1.
This was announced by Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso during a Facebook live on Monday.
Executive Order No. 37, which the mayor signed, permits Internet cafes and sports facilities such as gyms and fitness studios to operate, provided that the venue capacity is only at 30 percent.
According to Domagoso, the said businesses and facilities are allowed to operate from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., in compliance with the city government’s adjusted curfew hours.
“Kayo ay makakapagbukas na mula ala singko ng umaga hanggang alas diyes ng gabi. Kung ang negosyo niyo po ay gym, simula bukas (September) ay pinapayagan na po kayo ng lokal na pamahalan mag-operate, ito ay alinsunod po sa pinirmahan ko kanina na Executive Order No. 37 (Your businesses can now open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. If you have a gym, starting tomorrow you are allowed to operate in accordance with Executive Order No. 37 which I signed)," the mayor announced.
Under the executive order, sports facilities are allowed to resume operations “limited only to non-contact sports and other forms of exercise such as walking, jogging, running, biking, swimming, tennis, badminton, equestrian, range shooting, and skateboarding using an outdoor setting only.”
As such, gyms and fitness studios are allowed to reopen only for individual workouts.
“Group sessions composed of two or more persons shall be strictly prohibited,” the executive order said.
On the other hand, Internet cafes are permitted to reopen provided that their equipment may only be used for work or educational purposes.
Domagoso also stressed that operators of all Internet cafes and sports facilities are required to wear face masks and face shields at all times.
"I only have a small favor to ask you, be responsible. To all those managing Internet cafes and gyms, you are required to wear a face shield and face mask," the mayor noted in Filipino.
Customers entering Internet cafes, he said, are required to wear face masks, saying a customer is not allowed to remove them as long as they are inside the cafe.
Meantime, persons who will be engaging in exercise and other sports activities may remove their face masks but only during their respective activities, Domagoso said.
“’Yung mga pupuntang customer sa gym, kayo po ay hinihikayat na mag-face mask, pero habang kayo po ay nag-eensayo, puwede niyo tanggalin saglit ng mask habang gumagawa ng set (Gym customers are allowed to remove their face masks while training or completing a set of exercise),” the mayor said.
According to the mayor, gym instructors, however, are not allowed to remove their face masks and face shields, saying they must be worn at all times inside the gym.