‘Return of indoor dining, salons to revive 300,000 jobs’

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) expects around 300,000 jobs to return as indoor dining and personal care service establishments reopen, although at low capacity, in the National Capital Region (NCR) and four provinces.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the agency estimates 300,000 workers returning to work after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) allowed indoor dining establishments to reopen at 10 percent capacity in MECQ areas.

The IATF also approved the resumption of operations of personal care service establishments like barbershops, beauty salons, beauty parlors and nail spas, but only at 30 percent operating capacity.

The NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal will continue to be under MECQ until May 14.

Lopez said the DTI proposed the reopening of the indoor dining and personal care service establishments, after 1.5 million jobs were lost when NCR Plus areas reverted to a two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

With the shift to MECQ, he said 500,000 workers were able to return.

“Talking to industry, we are consulting them, they said this is better than zero,” Lopez said.

“It’s the call of the restaurant. They have an option. If they think they will lose money, I’m sure they will not do it (re-opening). That’s why we leave it to them,” he said.

Courts stay closed

The Supreme Court (SC) extended the physical closure of all courts and judicial offices in areas under localized enhanced community quarantine and modified enhanced community quarantine until May 14 as COVID-19 cases spike.

In an administrative circular, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said physical closure of courts and judicial offices will apply to NCR and the provinces of Abra, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Quirino and Rizal which are under MECQ.

The courts and offices in the cities of Santiago and Isabela will also remain closed until May 14.

“All the physically closed courts and judicial offices in areas under ECQ and MECQ may be reached through their respective hotlines and email addresses as posted in the Supreme Court website,” Gesmundo said.

Despite the physical closure, courts and judicial offices will continue to operate virtually through fully remote video-conferencing. Essential judicial offices will maintain skeletal staff to address all urgent matters and concerns.

“Filing and service of pleadings and motions will remain suspended until after seven calendar days from the first day of the physical reopening of the court and judicial offices,” Gesmundo added.

Meanwhile, courts in areas under general and modified general community quarantine will be physically opened with a workforce of at least 25 percent of working capacity, to be determined by executive justices and presiding judges. – Robertzon Ramirez