 BusinEss. Abalos backs increasing capacity of businesses in NCR in June

Duterte OKs add'l P5B budget for quarantine expenses of returning OFWs

MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Rodrigo Duterte has approved an additional P5 billion budget for quarantine expenses of returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Thursday. "The President approved an additional P5 billion budget and this was confirmed by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III," Roque said. "This budget will pay for the quarantine hotel expenses because of the longer quarantine period that we require for our returning OFWs," he added.

The Philippine government requires returning OFWs to undergo quarantine in a government-run facility and have them undergo an RT-PCR test on the seventh day of quarantine. If they test negative, these returning OFWs are required to finish 14-day quarantine at home.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief Hans Leo Cacdac earlier said the agency would need P9 billion additional budget to address the longer quarantine period required for returning OFWs amid the emergence of new variants of the coronavirus.

Over 500,000 OFWs have been repatriated since the COVID-19 pandemic grounded businesses and industries worldwide. (MNS)

Abalos backs increasing capacity of businesses in NCR in June

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. on Wednesday said he supports opening up more businesses and further increasing the capacity of establishments in the National Capital Region by June.

Abalos made the suggestion as he noted that the COVID-19 cases in the country are already going down.

“I don’t want to preempt the decision of the mayors… For me, personally, we could open up more businesses and study the capacity itself,” he said.

“Because right now, we are now in [General Community Quarantine] with heightened restrictions. Probably, pwede luwagan pa natin in terms of capacity,” he added.

Abalos also said that he will bring up the possible adjustments of curfew in Metro Manila in a meeting Wednesday night with the NCR mayors.

Adjusting the curfew hours will allow businesses to adjust their operating hours, he explained.

Currently, the curfew in Metro Manila is implemented from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m.

The NCR Plus is under GCQ "with heightened restrictions" from May 15 to May 31, 2021.

Under GCQ with heightened restrictions, indoor dine-in services in NCR Plus shall be at 20% venue or seating capacity while outdoor or al fresco dining shall be at 50% venue or seating capacity.

Outdoor tourist attractions in the NCR Plus, on the other hand, may be opened at 30% with strict adherence to minimum public health standards.

Public transportation shall remain operational at such capacities and protocols in accordance with the Department of Transportation guidelines while the use of active transportation shall be promoted. (MNS)

MMDA CHAIRMAN BENHUR ABALOS JR.