Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion has attested to the safety of cinemas as a venue when ti comes to controlling the spread of the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

While cinemas and movie houses have remained closed for the most part since the pandemic began in March 2020, Concepcion bared in a televised interview Tuesday, Oct. 12, that these venues are being used as vaccination sites by the private sector.

"Itong mga sinehan, ginagamit namin pagbakuna ng mga empleyado namin ‘no (We’re using the cinemas as a place for vaccinating our employees)," the Palace official said.

"So kung ginagamit namin iyong sinehan pambakuna ng empleyado, halos lahat ng mga sinehan dito sa mga malls, eh ‘di dapat safe na rin iyan, hindi ba? (So if we're able to use the cinemas as vaccination sites for our employees, almost all the cinemas at the malls, then that means they're also safe, right?) We will not use that cinema if it’s not safe," stressed Concepcion.

There has been renewed to clamor for the reopening of cinemas following the National Capital Region's (NCR) recent abandonment of the region-wide quarantine classification scheme in favor of the Alert Level System or ALS.

NCR is currently at alert level 4, where cinemas are still barred from opening its doors to patrons.

Concepcion has been batting for increased economic activity this fourth quarter, which is traditionally the strongest quarter for business. This can be achieved by allowing greater mobility for individuals already vaccinated from COVID-19.

He highlighted in the interview that 80 percent of Metro Manila's eligible population has already been inoculated against the respiratory disease.

"NCR is 80 percent protected because of the vaccinated, so, let’s give them the leeway ‘no – NCR. Cinemas, yes!" the Go Negosyo founder said.

" Benhur Abalos was saying they’re going to have the film fest ‘no at the end of the year. I think we should celebrate that with the proper protocols ‘no)," Concepcion further said.

Concepcion was referring to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), a major event in the local film industry. The event is typically launched on Christmas day.

Malacañang said earlier this month that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) would tackle the possible reopening of cinemas in areas under alert level 3.