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'Staycations' allowed, but would you please just stay at home?

Philippines | National

'Staycations' allowed, but would you please just stay at home?

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said "staycations" are highly discouraged during the two-week National Capital Region (NCR)-plus bubble, even if they're technically allowed under the rules.

(JANSEN ROMERO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

DTI Usec. Ruth Castelo appealed to the public Tuesday, March 23, to opt with just staying at home during the upcoming Holy Week instead of renting a hotel room or someone else's place.

“Staycations are allowed, yes, but they are highly discouraged because we encourage everybody to stay home,” Castelo said during a virtual press briefing.

However, the undersecretary said it is still up to the public if they would heed her advice or go on to rent a place during the holidays. At any rate, she reminded them that “the surge is there and COVID (coronavirus disease)is real.”

“Kung nandito lang din naman sa NCR (But if you’re already in NCR), why not just stay home,” she added.

Castelo reiterated that at present, operations of driving schools, amusement and recreation industries, game arcades, libraries, archives and museums, cultural centers, cockfighting and cockpit operations are suspended.

She said venues are only allowed to hold essential business gatherings at 30 percent capacity. Only outdoor or alfresco dining is allowed, while food stalls are prohibited.

The agency has also limited to 50 percent the operational capacity of personal care services such as salons, barbershops, spas, and nail and hair care establishments.

The travel bubble within the NCR (Metro Manila) and nearby provinces Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal will be enforced from March 22 to April 1.

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