Gov’t allows return of sale events amid COVID-19 crisis

Business establishments and malls may now hold sales and other marketing events to spur consumer spending amid the COVID-19 crisis, Malacañang said Friday.

This comes after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF) met on Thursday to discuss ways to further reopen the economy.

“Ang mga establishments at mga malls may hold activities para magkaroon ng economic o business activity, ito po ‘yung mga sales, pero subject po ito sa DTI [Department of Trade and Industry] guidelines in the operation of malls and shopping malls,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at the Laging Handa briefing.

The government previously disallowed marketing events and other promotions in malls, which tend to attract large crowds, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Well alam ninyo po pagpasok ng ‘ber’ months, ito po traditionally ang pinakamalakas pagdating po sa retail,” Roque told reporters on Thursday.

“Inaasahan po natin na nagbubukas tayo nang sapat para magkaroon po ng maximum opportunity ang merkado na makabawi doon sa napakalalim pong pagbaba ng ating ekonomiya.”

Roque also said the IATF authorized the DTI to adjust the permissible on-site operational capacities of all business establishments and/or activities under general community quarantine or lower.

The IATF also urged local government units not to cover workers, authorized persons outside of residence (APORs), and necessary establishments in the application of their curfew ordinances, to coordinate between and among each other and standardize curfew rules, and relax curfew hours unless called for by the COVID-19 situation in their respective areas.

The Department of Tourism, meanwhile, was authorized to determine the allowable operational capacity for accommodation establishments as well as the ancillary establishments within their premises. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News