Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12) — The country’s pandemic inter-agency task force could look into allowing establishments with fully vaccinated workers to operate at a higher capacity, a member of the body said.
“Dito sa…‘yung fully vaccinated, wala namang ganoong kailangang i-increase pa sa ngayon but that is a policy na pwede naming pag-usapan pa sa IATF,” Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez said during a government briefing.
Lopez clarified that the additional 10% operational capacity currently being granted to firms is for those who have acquired Safety Seals. The seal affirms a business entity’s compliance to public health protocols, providing customers safety assurance.
“Parang ano ‘yan eh, pwede kang magdagdag…theoretically ng capacity kung safe naman ang mga tao doon, bakunado na,” he said. “So that could be another policy pero hindi pa sa ngayon.”
[Translation: Let’s put it this way: theoretically, you can increase capacity if the people there are already fully vaccinated. So that could be another policy but not yet for now.]
The vaccination of essential workers began in June, with economic officials like Lopez lauding the development as a much-needed boost to the pandemic-stricken economy.
Over 1.68 million economic frontliners have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose as of July 11, recent government data revealed. Meanwhile, more than 191,800 already got their second shot.
These numbers form part of the 13.19 million doses administered as of late.
The Cabinet official also pinned his hopes on a wider vaccine rollout, along with continued observation of minimum public health standards, in bringing the down the number of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that shut down amid the health crisis.
Latest Trade Department data revealed that 10% of MSMEs closed their doors as of June, easing from the 16% logged in May as the government began relaxing strict lockdown measures.
Metro Manila is currently under general community quarantine with “some restrictions” until mid-July along with Bulacan and Rizal, while Laguna and Cavite are under GCQ with “heightened restrictions.”
The five areas — previously known as National Capital Region Plus — were earlier under forms of enhanced community quarantine due to a surge of COVID-19 cases.
