Manila Restaurant Week, a food festival by the city government to help businesses earn more amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) crisis, will return on Saturday (December 5) in time for the Christmas season.
The Yuletide Special of Manila Restaurant Week will be participated in by at least 80 Manila-based restaurants and will run until December 20.
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso led the launch of the program at M/V Eagle Cruiser on Thursday evening.
"Ramdam po namin na marami sa ating mga negosyante ang talagang naapektuhan ng pandemya, kung kaya naman po ito ang aming simpleng kaparaanan upang matulungan kayong makabangon (We feel that many of our businessmen have been affected by the pandemic, so, this is our simple way to help them get back on their feet)," he said in a Facebook post on Friday.
"Tuloy-tuloy lang tayo, onti-onti (We will slowly continue). Baby steps, baby wins. We must continue to show light and hope and lift the capital of the country, the City of Manila as a beacon of opportunity and hope that there will be a better place for us," he said in his speech on Thursday.
Bureau of Permits Director Levi Facundo said they will also launch the Street Food and Sweetness Overload editions of the Manila Restaurant Week on December 11 to 13 at the Kartilya ng Katipunan in Ermita. This will be open from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
About 30 small scale businesses will be joining in each edition.
"Our goal is to make them legitimate businesses and give them the opportunity to grow through help coming from other investors," he said in a statement.
"The Department of Trade and Industry will train them before the competition and award the winner/s with a grant or a loan through a bank and a possible space at a mall," he added.
Manila Restaurant Week is an offshoot of the city government's #ManilaSupportLocal campaign wherein residents of the capital city are encouraged to eat and shop from local businesses.
It was first held on September 20 to 27 where at least 60 local food businesses participated in the event.