Cinemas, arcades OK to reopen: IATF allows more businesses to resume in GCQ areas

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/02/12/20210208-thank-you-frontliners-jc-083416740_ios.jpg"/><figcaption>Pedestrians wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus cross Sumulong Highway in Antipolo City on Monday. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The inter-agency task force leading the country&#x27;s COVID-19 response has allowed more industries to reopen or expand their operations soon, Malacañang said on Friday, as authorities sought to boost the pandemic-battered economy. </p><p>The IATF, in its Thursday meeting, authorized &quot;the reopening and further expansion&quot; of the following industries in areas under general community quarantine or GCQ, said Palace spokesman Harry Roque. </p><ul>	<li>Driving schools</li>	<li>Traditional cinemas</li>	<li>Video and interactive game arcades</li>	<li>Libraries, archives, museums, cultural centers</li>	<li>Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions</li>	<li>Limited social events at accredited establishments of the Department of Tourism </li>	<li>Limited tourist attractions, such as parks, theme parks, natural sites and historical landmarks </li></ul><p>This will be subject to final guidelines that will be issued by the health department and local governments, Roque said in a televised public briefing.</p><p>&quot;Ang effectivity po nito ay (of this)—I understand, magkakaroon na naman ng (there will be) guidelines— will be the 15th of February,&quot; he said. </p><p>The Philippines has the second highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Southeast Asia, but Roque said improving hospital capacity provided room to ease more curbs.</p><p>&quot;Iyong mga nabuksan nating industriya, marami pong nagtatrabaho d&#x27;yan na matagal nang walang hanapbuhay. Ngayon po magkakahanapbuhay na silang muli,&quot; he said in an interview on the government&#x27;s television network. </p><p>(In the industries that we opened, many are working there that have not had livelihood for a long time. They can now earn.)</p><p>Metro Manila, which accounts for about a third of the country&#x27;s gross domestic product, is under GCQ, the second least stringent out of 4 lockdown levels, along with the Cordilleras and 6 other areas in February.</p><p>The rest is under modified general community quarantine, the loosest quarantine restriction level.<br/> <br/>From one of Asia&#x27;s fastest growing nations before the pandemic, the Philippines suffered its worst economic decline in 2020 as a strict coronavirus lockdown shuttered businesses and put millions out of work.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/01/21/we-are-sinking-duterte-says-philippines-losing-p2-billion-daily-due-to-covid-19">&#x27;We are sinking&#x27;: Duterte says Philippines losing P2 billion daily due to COVID-19</a></li></ul><p>The Philippines has tallied around 545,000 coronavirus infections as the continuing pandemic has barred the economy from fully reopening. </p><p>The government aims to start its coronavirus vaccination program in 4 public hospitals in Manila this month. Authorities aim to inoculate 70 million, or two-thirds of the country&#x27;s more than 108 million people this year. </p><div><strong>— With a report from Reuters. </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1619127" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar"><em>Video courtesy of PTV </em></div>

<p>MANILA — The inter-agency task force leading the country's COVID-19 response has allowed more industries to reopen soon in areas under general community quarantine, Malacañang said on Friday, as authorities sought to boost the pandemic-battered economy. </p>

MANILA — The inter-agency task force leading the country's COVID-19 response has allowed more industries to reopen soon in areas under general community quarantine, Malacañang said on Friday, as authorities sought to boost the pandemic-battered economy.

Cinemas, arcades OK to reopen: IATF allows more businesses to resume in GCQ areas | ABS-CBN

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Cinemas, arcades OK to reopen: IATF allows more businesses to resume in GCQ areas

Cinemas, arcades OK to reopen: IATF allows more businesses to resume in GCQ areas

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 12, 2021 12:07 PM PHT

|

Updated Feb 12, 2021 06:23 PM PHT

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