BY ASHZEL HACHERO and JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
THE Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has decided to retain the present guidelines on religious gatherings, including religious worship, in general community quarantine (GCQ) areas that limits attendees to a maximum of 10 persons at any time.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the task force decided against easing the rules on religious gatherings due to the still large number of COVID-19 cases in these areas.
“In the IATF meeting Monday afternoon, the prevailing sentiment was to keep the present guidelines on religious gatherings, including religious worship such as maximum of 10 persons in GCQ areas, in view of the large number of COVID cases on GCQ areas, especially in Metro Manila,” Guevarra said.
He said this may change once the Department of Health submits new data on June 10 to the IATF.
“The DOH will submit new data analytics on June 10, which will be the basis for the possible reclassification of general community quarantine regimes by June 15,” he said, adding: “If the reduction in COVID cases will be significant by then, I believe that the IATF will be amenable to the participation of more people in religious gatherings.”
The DOJ chief, however, said religious gatherings in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) are now allowed to the extent of 50 percent of the church or worship venue capacity starting June 1.
Under GCQ from June 1 to 15, are Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Central Visayas, Pangasinan, Zamboanga City, and Davao City while the rest of the country is under the modified GCQ.
DINE-IN
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the IATF has likewise agreed to allow restaurants and fast-food chains in areas under MGCQ to provide dine-in services but only at 50 percent capacity of their operations and subject to minimum health standards.
The dine in guidelines are contained in Joint Resolution No. 42 which was approved and released on June 1.
The trade and tourism departments recommended the partial resumption of dine-in operations provided that “the minimum public health standards protocol is cleared for distribution to and compliance of the concerned sector; and the resumption of, and continued operations of restaurant dine-in services shall be subject to the proprietors’ compliance with the proper health protocols set by the DTI and DOT.”
A post-audit mechanism, to be done by the DTI and DOT, shall be established to check non-compliance to the prescribed minimum health protocol, which shall be a ground for temporary closure while the concerned outlet corrects the deficiencies.
Roque said restaurants and fast foods should ensure regular sanitation of high contact areas and surfaces like door knobs and common tables and assign a manager on duty who would assist and ensure compliance of all customers and personnel inside the restaurant with the health standards.
Customers should be escorted to a table with an assigned number and provide a menu to select their order. One meter distance should be observed. There would be no buffet or self-service areas for condiments and utensils for now while play areas should remain closed.
Wash areas for kitchen staff and dine-in customers are separated.
Drive-thru counters should be contactless while contact with dine-in customers should be limited, including cash payments which should be placed in a designated tray. Alternative modes of payment shall also be provided by the establishment.
ONLINE SCAMMERS
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) warned online sellers against trying to fleece unsuspecting buyers by jacking up the price of goods, distributing fakes or counterfeit items, or delivering sub-standard items that do not comply with government safety standards.
DTI undersecretary for Consumer Protection Group Ruth Castelo told public briefing Laging Handa that contrary to what many people believe, online selling is also regulated by the agency and is in fact being watched closely. “If they are selling basic necessities or prime commodities, those are regulated by the DTI. Online selling is covered,” Castelo said.
With the imposition of restrictions on travel and the movement of people, online transactions between vendors and buyers have ballooned in recent months.
Anticipating a rash of complaints from home-bound customers, Castelo said the DTI has set up close coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
Castelo said bulk of DTI employees on work-from-home setups are monitoring online trading.
“We have around 2,500 employees in DTI. Some 2,000 are monitoring online selling. We see them (online scammers), we coordinate with the NBI or the PNP-CIDG. They should take us seriously. We have caused a lot of arrests,” Castelo said.
As Metro Manila and other populated cities gradually ease back to busier commercial activities, the DTI said it is stepping up efforts to monitor compliance by businesses to the standards required for public safety and protection as the COVID-19 pandemic remains a threat.
Also being watched are the prices and supply of basic necessities in the market.
She said the DTI has also received requests from suppliers and retailers to lift regulations limiting the sale of some items that earlier became target for hoarding and panic-buying including rubbing alcohol, bleach, disinfectants, and canned goods.
“We are still studying if we can lift the anti-hoarding circular,” she said. — With Peter Tabingo