Wider access of facilities and services for fully vaccinated people under the Alert Level 4 category in the National Capital Region (NCR) is being studied by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Senate committee on finance chair Senator Sonny Angara said he is recommending adding the capacity of establishments for vaccinated customers during the panel’s hearing on the DTI’s proposed P23.7-billion 2022 budget.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez responded, saying that the DTI is planning to “instead na 10% lang sa indoor for vaccinated sa [Alert] Level 4… baka pwedeng maakyat sa 20% o 30% ”
The National Capital Region is under Alert Level 4 where outdoor dining services in restaurants and eateries will operate at a maximum of 30% seating capacity regardless of vaccination status of customers.
Moreover, indoor dining or dine-in services are also allowed at a limited 10% seating capacity but will only be for fully vaccinated customers.
Lopez explained that business owners must recover their losses and that it will be difficult for owners to achieve that with only 10% indoor seating capacity.
Under the government’s Alert Level 3 classification, some establishments such as restaurants and personal care services are allowed to operate at 30% venue capacity regardless of the person’s vaccination status.
Other establishments which are allowed to operate under Alert Level 3 are museums, libraries, internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, casinos, cockfighting, lottery, gyms, spas, leisure centers, among others. Ronald Espartinez