Gov’t to allow more companies to reopen
The government will allow more companies to reopen or increase operating capacity after the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recategorizes some industries in a bid to revive the economy which shrank for the first time in 22 years and put around seven million out of work.
The Inter-agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) issued Resolution No. 56 which authorized the DTI to “gradually recategorize industries from Category IV, which are not allowed to operate, to Category III as may be deemed necessary.”
So far, the industries in Category III are: financial services, legal and accounting, and auditing services, professional, scientific, technical, and other nonleisure services, barbershops and salons, and nonleisure wholesale and retail establishments.
Industries under Category IV still not allowed to operate are amusement, gaming, fitness establishments, libraries, archives, museums, cultural centers, cinemas, theaters, karaoke bars and businesses related to the kids and tourism industries.
“[But] the resumption of, or gradual increase in operating capacity, and continued operations of Category III industries shall be subject to their proprietors’ compliance with the proper health protocols set by the DTI,” the IATF resolution said.
It added: “Their complioperate ance shall be assessed through a post-audit mechanism which shall be led by the DTI, Department of Health, local government unit health office and other deputized organizations.”
‘Negative list’
The DTI was also authorized to “issue a negative list of industries which shall remain prohibited even in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).”
“Establishments in the negative list shall not be allowed to in any form of community quarantine,” the resolution said.
It reiterated that the holding of cockfighting and operation of cockpits, beerhouses, nightclubs and establishments whose primary business is the serving of alcoholic drinks “shall remain prohibited in areas under MGCQ.”
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the recategorization was “in compliance with the directive to ensure the increase of the capacities of the business sector vis-à-vis available transportation to revitalize the economy in Metro Manila and Calabarzon.”
The economy slipped into a recession during the first quarter with the gross domestic product shrinking by 0.2 percent year-on-year because of the lockdown of Luzon, which hosts 75 percent of the country’s economic production.
But the country’s economic managers fear the recession may have gotten worse in the second quarter.