Metro Manila delays reopening of cinemas
MANILA: The government on Monday gave in to the demand of Metro Manila mayors and agreed to delay the reopening of cinemas amid warnings from health experts that it would put more people at risk to the coronavirus pandemic.
This developed as Harry Roque, the presidential spokesman, revealed that President Duterte changed his mind and agreed to take his vaccine shots against the virus in public to boost public confidence even as the Philippines has yet to start its nationwide inoculation programme compared to what its neighbouring countries have already done.
Meanwhile, Roque revealed that the InterAgency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has agreed to the demand of the mayors of the 16 cities and one town that compose Metro Manila to delay until March 1 the reopening of movie theaters instead of Monday as initially scheduled.
Roque pointed out even with the delay, cinema operators and owners are still required to obtain permission from the mayors to reopen. But he denied that the mayors and the IATF were engaged in a “war” over the issue.
“The IATF and your mayors are not fighting. We agree that we need to reopen the economy,” Roque told a media briefing in a mix of Filipino and English. He was referring to the firm stand of the mayors that the reopening of cinemas would result in more COVID-19 infections based on warnings from health experts.
Earlier, Mayor Edwin Olivarez of Paranaque City, the chairman of the Metro Manila Council, said the IATF approved the resolution allowing the reopening of more businesses like movie theaters to help perk up the economy already suffering from the adverse impact of the pandemic.
In particular, Olivarez also cited warnings of health experts that cinemas would put more people at risk to COVID 19 because these are enclosed and air-conditioned. Dr Antonio Dans of the Health Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 described the IATF decision as “business centric” which could result to more infections.
Aside from traditional cinemas, the IATF also approved the reopening of more businesses such driving schools, video and interactive arcades, libraries, libraries, museums and cultural centres as well as tourist attractions such as theme parks.
In the same media briefing on Monday, Roque disclosed that Duterte has changed his mind and agreed to have his COVID-19 shots in public to boost the Filipinos confidence on the vaccine.