Restaurants warned to strictly follow health protocols

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on Thursday warned restaurants that they will be shut down if they fail to comply with health protocols once dine-in are allowed in General

Community Quarantine (GCQ) areas starting June 15.

“Our warning to this business opening is that they comply with the health protocols,” he said during an interview over CNN Philippines.

“They will be requested to shut down first to allow them to correct any deficiency,” he added.

Lopez said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) has permitted restaurants starting June 15 to accept dine-in at 30 percent capacity.

Lopez said the IATF even no longer required accreditation “so as to remove any bureaucratic red tape in giving out accreditation.”

“We allow them to open on the basis that they will only open once they comply all these protocol standards,” the secretary said.

“But they will be subjected to random audit at any time,” he stressed.

Lopez said representatives from local government units (LGUs), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Health (DOH) and even the Department of Tourism (DOT) will be making rounds to conduct random inspections of restaurants.

With this, Lopez reminded the establishments of ensuring social distancing by placing chairs of customers 1.5 meters apart, have cashiers with clear glass dividers, install health protocol reminders and signages, keep comfort rooms sanitized, and have everyone observe health protocols including the wearing of masks.

“This in preparation for the eventual de-escalation of Metro Manila and similar areas from GCQ to Modified GCQ (MGCQ) in the near future,” he said.

Lopez noted restaurants in MGCQ areas are already allowed dine-in at 50 percent capacity.

“We have to remind the public that they have to follow strict protocol standards for their safety,” the secretary said.

“We are really working on reopening the economy, bring in back jobs. This is the only way that we can restart the economy,” he added.