Up to 200,000 workers seen to return to jobs during Alert Level 4 in NCR

MANILA, Philippines — About 150,000 to 200,000 persons are seen to return to work once Metro Manila is placed under Alert Level 4 starting September 16, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Tuesday.

“Sabihin mo na 150,000 to 200,000 at least ang makabalik sa trabaho na ngayon ay walang trabaho,” DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said in  an online Palace briefing when asked about the expected effect of Alert Level 4 over Metro Manila.

(Let’s say 150,000 to 200,000 unemployed right now will be able to return to their jobs.)

Lopez also expressed hope that the new strategy will bring back some P180 million to the economy every week.

“Not much but at least mayroon na hong makapag-restart on these sectors,” he said.

(It’s not much but at least, some can restart in these sectors.)

From September 16 to September 30, Metro Manila will be under Alert Level 4.

During this period, local government units will also impose granular lockdowns to restrict movement in small areas where there is high COVID-19 transmission.

Under Alert Level 4, outdoor dine-in services in restaurants and eateries are only allowed at 30 percent venue capacity. Indoor dine-in services are allowed to open at 10 percent capacity, but they may only cater to persons fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Personal care services limited to barbershops, hair spas, nail spas, and beauty salons are allowed at 30 percent capacity “if such services are conducted outdoors regardless of vaccination status.” But if these are indoor, the IATF said they may only operate at 10 percent capacity.

READ: What businesses, activities are allowed under new COVID-19 alert level system?

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