Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque Jr. presented in his press briefing today, June 1, 2021, the allowed and prohibited activities and establishments, including operational capacities, in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus.
In last night’s Talk-to-the-People Address, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte announced that the NCR plus the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal are still under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) from June 1 to 15, 2021.
“GCQ tayo sa Metro Manila Plus, pero may ilang restrictions sa kapasidad at ilang industriya,” said Secretary Roque. Among these restrictions are the continued prohibition of the operations of entertainment venues (bars, concert halls, theater, etc), recreational venues (Internet cafes, billiard halls, and arcades), and amusement parks, fairs, playgrounds, and kiddie rides.
Th Palace official also said that cockfighting is still prohibited, while lottery and horse racing with off-track betting have been temporarily allowed. “Yung mga non-contact sports po ay allowed, pero yung indoor sports courts, venues, and indoor tourists attractions, at kasama po dyan ang mga gyms, hindi pa rin po allowed hanggang June 15,” Roque said.
Roque, who also sits as IATF spokesperson, added that venues for meetings and conferences are allowed up to 30 percent venue capacity in areas under GCQ with restrictions, while in areas under the regular GCQ, up to 50 percent venue capacity is allowed. For personal care services, Roque said that this is allowed up to 40 percent in GCQ with restrictions, while it is allowed up to 50 percent in regular GCQ. “Sa outdoor tourist attractions, allowed po tayo hanggang 30 percent, sa ordinaryong GCQ hanggang 50 percent po yan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Roque also mentioned that specialized markets of the Department of Tourism (DOT) such as staycations are allowed up to 100 percent venue capacity, while other DOT-accredited accommodation establishments are allowed up to 30 percent venue capacity with LGU oversight.
For indoor dining, up to 30 percent venue capacity is allowed under GCQ with restrictions, while in ordinary GCQ, indoor dining is allowed up to 50 percent, said Roque. And for religious services, Roque said that it is allowed at 30 percent, with LGUs having the option to increase the capacity up to 50 percent.
On interzonal travel, Roque said, “Allowed na po ang interzonal pero kinakailangan po point-to-point lamang, wala po syang age restrictions, pero merong testing before travel requirement at alamin po natin kung anong mga requirement sa ating destinasyon dahil syempre po yung mga requirement ng LGU kung saan kayo pupunta eh mananaig pa rin po yun,” explained Sec. Roque. On the other hand, Roque said intrazonal travel within the NCR Plus will remain to be allowed, and 18 to 65 years remain to be the age group allowed to go out.
On another matter, the IATF spokesperson said that the policy-making body reminded members of the Cabinet of their role as Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and Security or CORDS, and of their duties and responsibilities in Regional IATFs and Regional Task Forces.
In IATF Resolution No.118, Cabinet Secretaries were instructed to coordinate with the respective LGUs under their oversight the following directives for urgent implementation: expansion of health system capacities or proactive dedication of COVID-19 beds, especially ICU beds; strengthening the Prevention-Detection-Isolation-Treatment-Reintegration strategies, specifically in reducing the time between detection to isolation of COVID-19 cases; and providing express lanes for Vaccine Priority Groups A1 to A3, with special attention to be given to senior citizens.
In the same press briefing, National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) Chief Implementer and Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the Philippines has now breached the five million mark in terms of the total number of vaccines administered. Sec. Galvez added that with a steady supply from COVAX of more than two million doses monthly, the country’s vaccine supply will stabilize by the month of July.
Meanwhile, still on the subject of vaccines, NTF Deputy Chief Implementer and Testing Czar Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon shared that the Philippines can now do more than 200,000 jabs a day, with a peak accomplishment of 236,244 vaccine doses administered in a day during Week 12 of the national vaccination program. Sec. Dizon also reported that last week alone, 1.1 million vaccine doses were administered, which he said is the highest number of vaccine doses administered in a day since the vaccination program started. ### OPS-PCOO
