DTI chief, Roque back reopening of gyms under Alert Level 4
MANILA, Philippines —Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday pushed for the reopening of gyms at a limited capacity under Alert Level 4 citing its health benefits amid the pandemic.
“Sa Level 3 allowed po iyan. Ang pinag-uusapan na lang natin dito ay sa Level 4 ay kung maisama siya sa isa sa—parang dine-in at personal care services na limitahan ang operation nito sa Level 4,” Lopez said in an online briefing when asked about the possibility of gyms reopening.
(Under Level 3, that’s allowed. What we’re discussing is under Level 4, including it with dine-in and personal care services that have been allowed at limited operations.)
“Bottom line po dito, this is essential and it will boost immunity at iyong virus is here to stay, so we should manage how to function in a very safe manner can save small businesses and jobs at isa pa matagal na po silang sarado,” he added.
(The bottom line is this is essential and it will boost immunity since the virus is here to stay. We should manage how to function in a very safe manner to save small businesses and jobs. One more thing is that these have been closed for so long.)
Metro Manila is piloting the alert level system and is under Alert Level 4 until the end of September. Guidelines issued by the COVID-19 task force states gyms will only be allowed to reopen at 30 percent capacity once the region deescalates to Alert Level 3.
Roque backed Lopez’s statement saying gyms should be reopened to help people like him who are diabetic and have a heart condition.
“Secretary Lopez, personal ko kayong suportado dito. Ako po ay diyabetiko; ako po ay may heart condition, ever since sarado po ang gym, hindi na po naging normal ang aking blood sugar,” Roque said.
(Secretary Lopez, I support you. I am diabetic, I have a heart condition. Ever since gyms have closed, my blood sugar hasn’t been normal.)
“So, nakikiusap po tayo sa mga opisyales, mga kasama natin sa IATF, essential po talaga ang gym lalung-lalo na doon sa mga mayroon ng karamdaman gaya ng diabetes…Talagang absolutely indispensable po ang gym,” he went on.
(We are asking officials, our colleagues in the IATF, gyms are essential especially to those who have medical conditions like diabetes. Gyms are truly indispensable.)
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