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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Not reckless! DTI chief defends gradual opening of business sector amid pandemic

Not reckless! DTI chief defends gradual opening of business sector amid pandemic

Published Mar 1, 2021 02:43 pm

Opening the business sector in a gradual manner despite the persisting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is not a reckless move, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez argued.

(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

When asked for a comment on claims that easing restrictions to give way to the reopening of businesses was "reckless", Lopez calmly debunked it during a televised interview Monday, March 1.

“Hindi po. Dahil every time po mula nung August pa last year, every time na pinag-uusapan itong gradual na pagbubukas at calibrated na pagbubukas, nire-remind po natin yung restriction sa ating mga kababayan sa pagasunod ng health protocols, hindi po tayo nagluluwag doon (No, it’s not reckless.

Because since August, every time we discuss the gradual and calibrated reopening, we always remind the public to practice health protocols, we did not relax it),” Lopez said.

The DTI secretary stressed that while they allowed the reopening of some sectors and eased certain rules, they did not relax the restrictions on health protocols.

“In fact mas lalo pang pinaigting ang enforcement so iyon po ay hindi po reckless itong ginagawa (In fact, we intensified the enforcement so, what we did is not reckless),” he further said.

Lopez noted that all decisions on reopening a certain sector were “well-planned and gradual".

"We are still looking for ways on how to ease restrictions without really shifting into MGCQ (modified general community quarantine) while we reopen sectors gradually to allow more economic activities,” he said.

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