M!CE in the Philippines
With guidelines in place, our stakeholders will be assured that their health and well-being is protected, says Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo–Puyat
The Department of Tourism, Philippines, has allowed meetings and conventions to take place under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) at 50 per cent capacity. The world is gradually opening up to tourism as well as the M!CE sector, and though events and meetings are required to follow strict guidelines and adhere to a limit on the number of attendees, the move is set to help an industry and its people that have already been hit hard.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo– Puyat recently signed the Administrative Order, also known as ‘Guidelines on M!CE Operations under the MGCQ’. Based on the guidelines, M!CE events in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), modified ECQ, and general community quarantine (GCQ) are strictly prohibited. Exemptions are those conducted through online platforms facilitated without physical interaction.
The guidelines also stress that the rules on interzonal and intra-zonal movement under the Inter Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF–EID) shall be observed. Persons below 21, and over 60 years old, are prohibited from participating in any M!CE events, even under MGCQ, in accordance with the IATF rules. Meanwhile, Puyat also signed a Memorandum Circular or the health and safety guidelines governing the operations of M!CE organisers and venues or facilities under the new normal. “M!CE tourism plays a critical role in our recovery with its innate characteristic to boost local economy, generate employment and directly benefit tourism entrepreneurs. With these guidelines in place, our stakeholders will be assured that their health and well-being is protected, as we maintain our position as an established M!CE destination," she said.
MICE organisers are required to formulate an emergency preparedness plan to prevent the spread of infection at the M!CE event. At the same time, the venue operator is required to designate an isolation room or area where persons who feel unwell while at the M!CE event may be brought to before referral to medical personnel, based on the prescribed protocols of the Department of Health (DOH).
Guidelines also require seating arrangements for different venue set-ups such as the one-metre distance between seats for conference and breakout rooms, and the two-person-maximum for each six-foot table. Exhibit layout shall have wider aisles than usual, preferably more than three metres. No adjacent booths shall be directly facing each other.
Buffet set-up and selfservice will be prohibited. Pre-packed individual meals and drinks shall be the standard means of food packaging throughout the event. “Similarly, we would like to reiterate that they also need to comply with the applicable issuances of the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and other sector-related agencies for compliance with the minimum public health standards,” Puyat emphasised.