The government will "carefully" look into the appeal of fitness center owners to allow them to reopen at a limited operation capacity under the alert levels system, officials said Monday, Sept. 20.
Miguel Gutierrez, co-founder of Anytime Fitness Philippines, appealed to the national government and interagency task force (IAFT) to allow them to operate at a 10 percent allowable capacity, similar to the opportunity given to restaurants and personal care services.
This was relayed during an inspection conducted by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez in some private establishments in Makati City,
Lopez said the government "is open to study the appeal of gyms and fitness centers to allow them to open on the premise that exercise boosts immunity."
"We will study this carefully so that the health and well-being of our kababayans will be protected thru all forms of exercise. The gyms must ensure safe distancing and install air purifiers for additional ventilation," Lopez stressed.
Alfresco dine-in services at the Rockwell Center in Makati City was among the establishments inspected by officials to check their compliance with the rules set under Alert Level 4
Abalos expressed satisfaction over the center's compliance to the safety protocols saying, “I would like to congratulate Makati and Rockwell President Nestor Padilla as they are trying their best to comply with the safety protocols to protect their customers amid the pandemic.”
Under Alert Level 4, outdoor or alfresco dine-in services in restaurants are allowed to operate at 30 percent capacity, regardless of customers' vaccination status while indoor dine-in services may be allowed at 10 percent capacity, only for fully vaccinated individuals.
Makati Mayor Abby Binay, who also joined the inspection, said that :in this city we mean business" as they also conduct random checks for those establishments who have failed to comply with the IATF guidelines.