Malacañang explained that the move of the Department of Tourism (DOT) to allow "staycation" in areas under the general community quarantine (GCQ) was part of the second phase of the National Action Plan which involves the reopening of the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the move to "explore various ways in restarting tourism activities" during the ongoing quarantine.
In his Monday presser, Roque explained that the National Action Plan Phase II of National Task Force COVID-19 (NTF) entails the gradual reopening of the economy.
"Itong pinaplano po ng DOT ay alinsunod naman po doon sa unti-unting pagbubukas ng sektor ng turismo (This plan of the DOT just adheres to the slow reopening of the tourism sector)," he said.
"Kumbaga po (In other words), that marks the reopening of our tourism industry here in Metro Manila," he added.
Roque appealed to the people to give the move a chance. People online have argued that the plan would cause the spread of the disease because it only encourages the public to go out.
"Let's give it a chance… Pwede naman pong pag-ingatan ang ating buhay para makapag-hanapbuhay (We can just take care of our health so we can work)," he said.
Live events
Meanwhile, Roque said that the country's live events industry can resume its operations but at limited capacity in areas under the modified GCQ (MGCQ).
Roque made the statement after British composer Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber warned that the arts are at the "point of no return" due to the damage caused by the pandemic.
"There comes a point now when we really can't go on much more," the brains behind the hit musical "Phantom of the Opera," said.
In the Philippines, theater, musicals, and other live events are allowed to operate at 50 percent of the venue's capacity in areas under the MGCQ.