Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez is amenable to the proposed gradual or phased lifting of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine to restore more essential businesses and allow workers to return to their jobs.
Lopez has agreed with the sentiment of some business leaders on the modified lifting of the Luzon lockdown but recognized the “new norm” of health precautions such as social distancing measures must still be followed.
The enhanced community quarantine over Luzon, that compels residents to stay at home to curb the spread of the coronavirus, was ordered by President Duterte last March 16. It remains in effect until April 12.
“Talking to the business community, actually sila rin nagsasabi na mag-ingat din sa total lifting. Tama siguro ang term na ‘yung modified or phased, gradual lifting,” Lopez said during the “Laging Handa” public briefing over People’s Television network yesterday.
“Gradual muna. Importante maibalik ang mga negosyo na kailangan na magtuloy para may hanapbuhay ang ating mga kababayan again following the new norm ‘yung mga social distancing,” he added.
Lopez, however, said the phased lifting of the quarantine regulations should not mean it will be “business as usual” like before. He said the modified lifting of the quarantine should focus on “more essential, more basic businesses” and their supply chain.
“Ibig sabin pati ‘yung mga gumagawa ng inputs para sa food, sa mga essential products, hygiene products, medical products, ‘yung supply chain nito, ‘yung mga supplier ng packaging, mga inputs and raw materials, kasama agriculture sector kaya lahat yan bubuksan na,” he said. “Pati yun essential items sabihin na natin yung next important ‘yung mga hardware and other services,” he added.
Even if the Luzon quarantine is partially lifted, Lopez also insisted that mass gathering of people such in concerts and theaters should still be prohibited.
“Tama ho yan phased lifting na ‘yan or gradual lifting dahil sa palagay ko even mga kababayan rin natin takot din sila mag-total lifting in the sense na ‘yung mga crowded places hindi pa rin encourage ‘yun,” he said. “‘Yung mga mass gathering tulad ng konsyerto, mga big events, theaters. hindi pa siguro samahan na mababalik ‘yun.” he addded.
Employees reporting to work must also still undergo thermal checks and practice social distancing measures as a precaution against the coronavirus, according to the Trade and Industry chief.
“Mayroon na tayong na tinatawag new norm sa pagte-test, pag-scan ng mga workers. Siguraduhin na walang sakit. Mayroon tayong new norm in terms of social distancing kaya kahit magbalikan sa trabaho mayroon tayong new culture, new norm,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)
EXTENSION SOUGHT
Lopez has called for the extension of operating hours of supermarkets to avoid overcrowding of customers.
He said extending grocery hours will give people more time to buy food and other essential products amid the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
Lopez made the recommendation on longer market hours to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the government’s policy-making body on the operations to combat the spread of the new coronavirus disease in the country. (Genalyn Kabiling)
