Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 21) — Cash aid for displaced workers amid stricter lockdown rules? The government is unlikely to provide assistance, with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque saying Filipinos can still go to work as the “economy remains open.”
In a virtual briefing on Sunday, Roque said the government would not implement an “economic lockdown” since many industries would still be allowed to operate in Mega Manila despite placing the area under a stricter general community quarantine from March 22 to April 4.
“Hindi po ‘yan hard lockdown, kasi bukas ang ekonomiya. But it is a restriction of movement, kasi iniiwasan natin na kumalat pa ‘yung new variants na nasa Metro Manila at karatig na probinsiya,” he said.
[Translation: It’s not a hard lockdown, because the economy is open. But it is a restriction of movement because we are avoiding the spread of new variants present in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.]
“Bukas pa rin ang ekonomiya kaya pwede pa rin magtrabaho,” Roque added.
[Translation: The economy is still open, so people can still work]
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Citing Resolution No. 104 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Roque said establishments that are temporarily suspended during the period include driving schools, traditional cinemas and video- and interactive-game arcades, libraries, archives, museums, and cultural centers.
Social events at accredited establishments of the Department of Tourism will be limited, as well as tourist attractions, except if they are open-air.
All food establishments in GCQ areas will only be allowed to offer delivery, take-out and outdoor dining services. Outdoor or distanced al fresco dining though will only be permitted at 50% capacity.
Roque said the government is encouraging the private sector to embrace a work-from-home scheme or impose a 30% to 50% operational capacity.
The stricter quarantine controls are meant to lessen the spread of the COVID-19.
READ: PH reports 7,757 new COVID-19 cases as death toll nears 13,000
