Manila Restaurant Week, a food festival that will be held from September 20 to 27, was formally launched by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso at The Manila Hotel late Tuesday afternoon.
Domagoso said the project’s objective was done not only to showcase the capital city's diverse food selections but also to help businesses that were affected by the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
The Department of Tourism supports the food festival.
“Full support to Mayor Isko Moreno. We need to restart the economy slowly but surely with health and safety in mind so that we can give jobs back,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a message.
Domagoso reiterated his belief that the government must help protect the public's lives as well as their livelihoods amid the pandemic.
Award-winning singer and actress Lea Salonga also showed her support to the project by performing her song "Dream Again" virtually during the launch.
Over 60 food establishments are said to participate in the Manila Restaurant Week. Prix fixe breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner meals will be offered to patrons at affordable prices.
Restaurants and other dine-in businesses are considered as secondary tourism establishments.
Puyat said out of the 5.7 million Filipinos employed in the tourism industry last year, 4.8 million were directly affected by the crisis. (With a report from Hanah Tabios)