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Philippines

'Flexible' MECQ to increase workforce by 50% in NCR - MMC chairman

Philippines

'Flexible' MECQ to increase workforce by 50% in NCR - MMC chairman

By Dhel Nazario

Small construction projects and personal care stores are some of the establishments that the Metro Manila Council (MMC) has discussed to operate under the proposed "flexible" Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ), ParaÃ±aque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez bared on Thursday, April 29.

ParaÃ±aque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez (FACEBOOK/MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

In an interview on DZBB, Olivarez, who also chairs the MMC, said that what's important is not the revenue that the local government units (LGUs) will gain from the opening of these businesses but the number of people who will regain their jobs.

"Doon po sa personal care needs pati sa construction sa palagay po namin sa amin pong estimate 50 percent po ang madadagdag (With the opening of the personal care stores and operation of small construction projects, we estimate that the workforce will increase by 50 percent)," he said,

Meanwhile, Olivarez explained that the idea of the flexible MECQ came from Department of Trade Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez.

"So doon po sa sinasabi ni Secretary Lopez na ito mayroon po tayong ibang businesses na bubuksan. (So in the flexible MECQ mentioned by Secretary Lopez, there will be new business that will be allowed to open)," he said.

The guidelines regarding the opening of such establishments, according to Olivarez, will be provided by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID)

He also reminded that only al fresco dining will be allowed under the extended MECQ.

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