The National Task Force (NTF) will leave to health experts the decision on whether or not to approve the proposal by a group of businessmen allowing senior citizens who were inoculated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to dine in restaurants.

NTF spokesperson Restituto Padilla Jr. said the proposal by the Restaurant Owners of the Philippines will be submitted by the task force to the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).

"Isusumite po natin sa mga eksperto ang ganitong panukala. Tandaan po natin, laging ang last say po nito ay nangagaling sa mga daubhasa at sa mga eksperto nating nasa medical practicing field at mga professionals (We will submite this kind of proposal to the experts. Let us remember that the experts and professionals in the medical practicing field will always have the last say on these matters)," Padilla said in a virtual "Laging Handa" press briefing.

On Tuesday, Restaurant Owners of the Philippines President Eric Teng proposed in a Senate hearing the implementation of a vaccine pass system to revive their industry and among the priorities are the senior citizens.

Teng pointed out that individuals aged 65 years old and above are "discriminated" as they are not allowed to go out of their homes under the current community quarantine status.

The Greater Manila Area or National Capital Region (NCR) Plus is placed under a general community quarantine (GCQ) with "heightened restrictions" by President Duterte until May 31.

Only those aged 18 to 65 years old can leave their places of residence in these areas, according to Malacanang. Indoor dining is allowed at 20 percent capacity while al fresco or outdoor dining is allowed at 50 percent capacity, Malacanang added.

But Padilla noted that the decision of IATF -- the policy-making body of the government in its pandemic response -- will be the basis of the NTF, which is the primary implementor of the crafted COVID-19 pandemic policies.

"Kung ano po man ang irerekomenda nila, iyon po ang ating susundin. Lahat naman po ng inirerekomenda ay naaayon sa kaligtasan at safety at health concerns ng kababayan natin (Whatever their recommendation will be, we will follow it. After all, their recommendations are aligned with the safety and health concerns of our countrymen)," Padilla said.

Since Duterte declared the first wave of lockdown in March 2020, the government has been trying to balance the public health and the country's economy in its National Action Plan (NAP) on COVID-19.