Hotel, restaurant owners and operators, and retailers said their operations have to maintain the minimum public health standards, including the wearing of masks, to ensure good customer experience amid continuing threats of Covid-19. At the press conference for the launch of the country’s first Philippines Furniture Furnishings Market (PFFM) trade fair slated on July 5-7 at the SMX Convention Center, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP), Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA), and the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) expressed their preference on the continued wearing of face masks. HRAP President Eugene Yap noted that the World Health Organization has come up with a downgrading or the almost elimination of Covid 19, nevertheless the virus is still going around may be not as pandemic but endemic in nature. “Mask is always a very important part of our future,”  Yap said noting that many countries, including Japan, even before the pandemic were already wearing masks as courtesy. “Mask is still an important part, especially in our food serving areas,” he said, but added that many areas, especially outdoors, there are lesser people wearing masks. However, wearing of masks is still “very prevalent and very required” in food serving areas. He expressed hope that masking on may not become much of a requirement anymore, but said  establishments have to decide it on their own. PHOA Executive Director Benito “Bong” Bengzon, Jr. said they follow the guidelines issued by the government and abide the minimum public health standards. Regardless of the guidelines of the government, Bengzon said that hotels, restaurants and other tourism facilities have “always maintain very strict guidelines to make sure we are able to provide good experience for our customers.” PRA President Paul Santos said that retailers also observe the guidelines issued by the government “If they say it is okay to take it off, we will follow, if they say mask again, we will also follow.” Retailers are free to impose their own minimum health standards or impose their own internal policy to demand a more stringent health protocol among staff, he said.