DTI issues circular on increasing capacity of businesses under GCQ up to 100%

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Friday released a circular on increasing the operational capacity of certain business establishments to as much as 100% under the general community quarantine (GCQ).

In its Memorandum Circular No. 20-52, series of 2020, the DTI said that based on regular monitoring activities it conducted, through its Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau and regional and provincial offices, business establishments or activities under Categories II and III on GCQ that are not yet 100% operational have been compliant with minimum health and safety protocols.

With this, the Trade department said businesses under Category II and III shall be “allowed to operate at 100% capacity (while still allowing work-from-home arrangements, where practicable)...”

The circular increased the allowable operational capacity of the following businesses under Category II and III in areas placed under GCQ:

•     Mining and quarrying (domestic)
•     Other financial services (e.g. money exchange, insurance, reinsurance, lending companies, an non-compulsory pension funding
•     Legal and accounting
•     Management consultancy activities
•     Architecture and engineering activities, technical testing and analysis
•     Scientific and research development
•     Advertising and market research
•     Computer programming (such as writing, modifying, testing and supporting software, planning and designing computer systems), information service activities (such as data processing and hosting activities) and other related activities
•     Publishing and printing services (such as printing of newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals, books, brochures, manuscripts, posters, maps, atleases, advertising catalogues, prospectuses, etc; printing directly onto textiles, plastic, glass, metal, wood, and ceramics)
•     Film, music, and TV production
•     Recruitment and placement agencies for overseas employment
•     Other services such as photography services, fashion, industrial, graphic, and interior design
•     Wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles, including their parts and components
•     Repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles (including vulcanizing shops, battery repair shops, auto repair shops, car wash)
•     Malls and commercial centers (non-leisure only), subject to pertinent guidelines issued by DTI.

The circular also directed the increase in capacity to 100% of non-leisure wholesale and retail establishments, whether mall-based or not, such as:

•     Hardware stores
•     Clothing and accessories
•     Bookstores and school and office supplies stores
•     Baby or infant care supplies stores
•     Pet shops, pet food and pet care supplies
•     IT, communications, and electronic equipment
•     Flower, jewelry, novelty, antique, perfume shops
•     Toy store (playgrounds and amusement are closed)
•     Music stores
•     Art galleries (selling only)
•     Firearms and ammunition trading establishment

Barbershops and salons, meanwhile, are allowed only to have an operational capacity increase of up to 75%.

Likewise, restaurants and food establishments under GCQ are allowed to increase to more than 50% operational capacity, “provided that physical distancing is strictly observed; provided further that, the increase in operating capacity, menu offering, and maximum servings of alcoholic beverages shall be subject to the corresponding local government guidelines.”

“Restaurants and fastfood establishments’ dine-in, take-out, and delivery services shall be allowed to operate up to 24 hours a day, as far as practicable, to augment the additional operational requirements and serve the needs of the public, while enhancing income opportunities for workers,” the circular read.

The DTI said the circular shall take effect immediately upon publication with the University of the Philippines Law Center.—AOL, GMA News