MMDA eyes 30% capacity for cinemas

MANILA, Philippines — If the reopening of cinemas would still push through, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) would allow only 30 percent of the cinema’s capacity, an official said yesterday.

During the Laging Handa press briefing, MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia said local chief executives objected to the move by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to reopen cinemas. The move was deferred until next month.

“There were objections to the reopening of cinemas. A lot of the mayors, during the voting, opposed the move. You could not just open the cinemas,” Garcia said in Filipino.

If President Duterte would still allow cinemas to reopen, Garcia said the MMDA would craft guidelines to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“Maybe, instead of 50 percent capacity, we would only allow 20 percent to 30 percent capacity,” he said.

Meanwhile, Garcia also voiced doubts that there would be a resurgence in COVID-19 cases once Metro Manila is placed under modified general community quarantine.

“We (have been) under lockdown for a year. We have seen that our countrymen are responsible,” he said.