Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 27) — Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on Tuesday recommended the reopening of salons, barbershops, and other personal care services in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine as the government discusses the lockdown classification for May.
President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to issue his decision, but most health experts — even Health Secretary Francisco Duque III — is pushing for an extended MECQ over Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
With the possibility of an extended MECQ, Lopez said allowing personal care services to reopen can greatly help those working in the sector to get back on their feet. He estimated that around 200,000 workers belong to this sector in the Greater Manila area.
“Kung mag MECQ man, sana may opening ng labor-intensive sector na pinili pang nakasara ngayong MECQ,” he told CNN Philippines. “Kung gusto natin makabalik ang mas marami sa trabaho, kung gusto man mag-MECQ, at least mabuksan itong sector.”
[Translation: If we will remain under MECQ, I hope we can reopen the labor-intensive sector that was closed during MECQ. If we want to stay under MECQ and we want more people to return to work, I hope we can at least open this sector.]
Lopez said he is only in favor of the de-escalation of the community quarantine status if the healthcare capacity and number of new COVID-19 cases have gone down.
Duque on Tuesday said those who have gone ill after COVID-19 exposure, as well as the ICU utilization rate of COVID-19 cases, have not yet significantly gone down despite the reimposition of stricter lockdown rules in the Greater Manila area.
The trade chief said he only wants to shift to general community quarantine because he wants to help unemployed Filipinos, stressing cross border and nonessential trips can be scrapped for now.
If the pandemic task force grants the reopening of personal care services under MECQ, Lopez suggested operations be limited to just 10% for indoor stores. He also urged local government units to find way to open outdoor services.
