The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the proportion of businesses that have closed to date has declined to 11.7 percent from 16 percent in the National Capital Region (NCR) last month but the ratio increased from 4 percent to 7 percent elsewhere in the country.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez told the Laging Handa public briefing P30 billion in weekly wages in NCR will be regained if the quarantine alert level is lowered to Level 3.
Lopez said he has proposed to the Interagency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to consider allowing gyms to operate under Alert Level 4 as a policy, noting physical fitness is an essential activity that can help improve one’s immune system.
Lopez said when the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) were imposed in the NCR, an estimated P30 billion in wages was lost every week.
He said the current Alert level 4 is similar to MECQ but the difference is more businesses are allowed to operate at a limited capacity.
“I remember from the report, it’s something like P30 billion per week has an impact on the wages , especially NCR if we are at this alert level. The difference, is there is a slight opening in the dine and personal care services. The amount that will be returned to the economy will be in that vicinity, if we are lowered to Alert Level 3),” he said.
Lopez said the DTI is monitoring the situation daily to determine how much of the industries are affected by the community quarantine levels, alert levels and localized lockdowns.
Findings of a survey of the DTI of 15,000 establishments showed an improvement in the number of businesses that have opened in NCR compared to the start of August due to the heightened restrictions. But the situation has somewhat deteriorated in areas outside NCR where the number of COVID cases increased.
Lopez said while Alert Level 4 will continue until the end of the month, the DTI is hopeful the IATF will consider the proposal to allow indoor gyms to operate at 20 percent during this alert status but only for fully-vaccinated patrongs.
But he said gym goers should observe the following: no removal of masks, no contact and stay four meters.
The facility should be well-ventilated and equipped with air purifiers.
Lopez said exercising is an individual activity that can be done safely but has urged gym owners to develop outdoor exercises, if possible. – with Irma Isip
