DTI eases restrictions on essential producers

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has allowed enterprises that are part of the supply chain of food and other essential products to operate, as well as  establishments producing basic commodities to have 50 percent of their workforce report for work, to ensure stable supply of goods while the enhanced community quarantine is in place in Luzon. 

“The operation of other economic activities in the supply chain of food and essential products, medicine and medical products, such as production of raw and processed materials, packaging and other inputs, including the manufacturing and distribution thereof, shall be allowed,” the DTI said in Memorandum Circular (MC) 20-11.

In addition, DTI said establishments can operate with a maximum of 50 percent of their respective workforce.

Should the supply of the product being manufactured by the firm require more than 50 percent of the workforce capacity, the DTI said it could approve the increase temporarily. 

“Given the urgent need to increase the supply level of critical medical devices such as PPEs (personal protective equipment), surgical masks, the operations thereof can be at full capacity,” the DTI said. 

While the firms would be allowed to operate up to 50 percent of workforce capacity, DTI said social distancing, good hygiene and infection control measures should still be practiced. 

DTI said businesses allowed to operate are also encouraged to provide temporary accommodations and shuttle services within the vicinity of the workplace to limit movement of workers. 

Under rules issued at the start of April by the DTI, enterprises allowed to continue operations during the enhanced community quarantine period are limited to manufacturers of food, essential products, medicines and medical products; retail establishments; logistics service providers; hospitals and medical clinics; food preparations and water refilling stations; delivery services; banks and capital markets; power, energy, water, information technology and telecommunications, waste disposal services; as well as exporters and business process outsourcing firms. 

Rules issued earlier by the DTI only allowed businesses to operate with skeleton workforce. 

MC 20-11 was issued to make sure there is available supply of food and other essential commodities during the enhanced community quarantine period in Luzon. 

Luzon was placed on a lockdown to limit the movement of people and prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19. 

The community quarantine will end on April 12.