DTI releases list of industries allowed to operate under MECQ

MANILA, Philippines — Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez on Monday released a list of industries allowed to operate either on a limited or full capacity under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Based on the list, the following industries are allowed to reopen at skeleton workforce on-site:

• Dental, rehabilitation, optometry and other medical clinics for the treatment of illness or injuries
• Veterinary clinics
• Banks, pawnshops, money transfer services
• Capital markets
• Water supply, janitorial/sanitation services
• Energy sector and their third party contractors and service providers
• Telecommunication companies, internet service provider, cable television providers
• Airline and aircraft maintenance pilots and crew employees of aviation schools
• Ship captains and crew of shipyard operations and repair
• Funeral and embalming services

Meanwhile, media establishments are allowed to operate on half-capacity on site.

Industries allowed to operate at full capacity under MECQ are:

• Public and private hospitals
• Health, emergency and frontline services
• Medicine manufacturers
• Industries involved agriculture
• Logistics service provides
• Sssential and priority construction projects
• Manufacturing related to food and essential goods
• Companies which manufacture construction materials
• Essential retail trade and service establishments such as public markets, grocery stores, hardware office supplies, bicycle and laundry shops, pharmacies or drug stores
• Water refilling stations
• Restaurants and kiosks limited to take out and delivery
• Public and private financial service provides
• Business Process Outsourcing
• Public transport providers and operators

Establishments that are still not allowed to operate under MECQ are:

• Entertainment venues with live performers, cinemas, karaoke bars, bars, clubs
• Recreational venues such as internet cafes, arcades, etc.
• Amusement parks or theme parks
• Outdoor sports courts or venues for contact sports
• Indoor sports courts or venues, gyms, spas, swimming pools etc.
• Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments except for the draws conducted by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office
• Indoor visitor or tourist attractions, libraries, archives, museums, galleries, and cultural shows and exhibits
• Outdoor tourist attractions
• Venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions
• Personal care services which includes beauty salons, beauty parlors, medical aesthetic clinics, etc. Homes service of these activities are also not allowed
• Indoor dine-in services

Government instrumentalities and agencies should be fully operational with a skeleton workforce on-site and the remainder under alternative work arrangement, according to the list.

Meanwhile, foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations may operate with on-site skeleton workforce whenever performing diplomatic functions and subject to the guidelines issued by the DFA.

Only hotels or accommodation establishments with valid accreditation from the Department of Tourism will be allowed to accept guests for legitimate purposes, according to the DTI.

Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna, which is known as the “NCR Plus bubble” was placed under MECQ starting Monday, April 12, until April 30.

As of Sunday, the Philippines has 864,868 COVID-19 cases, including 146,519 active cases, 703,404 recoveries, and 14,945 deaths.

JE