Outdoor, dine-in services still not allowed under MECQ —DTI chief

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Friday said outdoor dining and dining services are still prohibited as the National Capital Region (NCR) and the province of Laguna are about to shift to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from August 21 to 31, 2021.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the said activities are considered “high-risk” and so the government decided not to allow these to reopen.

Under DTI Advisory No.21-16, series of 2021, issued on August 6, al fresco dining is allowed at 50% venue capacity while indoor dine-in services are allowed at 10%.

Lopez, however, said outdoor and in-door dining are still considered high-risk activities amid the threat of the Delta variant.

Takeout and delivery services, meanwhile, are allowed at 100% under MECQ.

Personal care services — beauty salons, barbershops, and nail spas — which were previously allowed at 30% under MECQ, are also prohibited, according to Lopez.

Meanwhile, non-essential retail trade establishments such as clothing and accessories, jewelry, flower, novelty, antique, perfume shops, toy stores, music stores, art galleries, and firearms and ammunition stores are allowed at 50% venue capacity under MECQ.

Other manufacturing activities, namely electrical machinery, wood products and furniture, textiles, paper products, rubber and plastic products, refined petroleum products, electrical equipment, motor vehicles and transport equipment which are not allowed under ECQ can operate at 50% capacity under MECQ.

Lopez said under MECQ, more people can go back to work. —KBK, GMA News