MANILA – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said the agency is considering increasing the allowed operation capacity of businesses in areas that will be under Alert Level 4 next month.
This, as the pilot week of the alert level system in Metro Manila has been a “good start” and “safe”, Lopez said in an interview with CNN Philippines Wednesday.
“We consider bringing operation capacity up from 10 percent to 20 percent because it is deemed safe, and customers are highly complying (with the protocols). It makes sense to give a little more support on this protocol,” he said in mixed English and Filipino.
He added this could start by October, after the last day of Alert Level 4 status in Metro Manila.
Metro Manila is currently under the new alert level system, in which outdoor dine-in operation is allowed up to 30 percent, and 10 percent for indoor dine-in services.
Same operation capacity was also applied for personal care services.
Aside from increasing the allowed capacity in stores, Lopez said the agency is also considering reopening the gyms under Alert Level 4.
Protocols under Alert Level 4 are equivalent to the current modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) protocol.
Meanwhile, due to the stricter community quarantine protocol to curb the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) Delta variant infection, Lopez said 16 percent of businesses in Metro Manila were closed in its September survey.
This increased from 10 percent in the June 2021 survey. (PNA)
