In President Rodrigo Duterte’s first full Cabinet meeting in 7 months, the topic that dominated the agenda was the further reopening of the Philippine economy.

Cabinet officials flocked to Malacañang on Monday, October 12, for their first physical pandemic-time meeting since March.

In the Palace’s Heroes Hall, Cabinet members occupied a longer-than-usual table and were separated from each other by see-through barriers.

Duterte, wearing a royal-blue suit, listened intently as Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua presented the Cabinet economic cluster’s recommendations which were eventually approved by the Chief Executive.

The approved recommendations are to increase the operational capacity of public transportation, allow more businesses to reopen or increase their operational capacity, and allow more age groups to step out of their homes. (READ: PH enters ‘Phase 3’ of COVID-19 plan: Allowing more people to go out while keeping health protocols)

We break down the rules under each based on Roque’s press conference presentation.

New public transportation rules

Below are the specific rules on public transportation approved by Duterte:

• Physical distancing rule to be reduced to “one seat apart” instead of one-meter requirement
• Gradually allow passengers to sit together “with plastic barrier or use UV (ultraviolet) light”
• Expand train capacity to 50%
• Expand provincial buses, motorcycle taxi, shuttles, and transport network vehicle services (TNVS)
• Accelerate use of service contracting of buses and jeeps

New rules for businesses

Below are the specific rules for businesses approved by Duterte:

• Shorten curfew hours and allow more work shifts so that “more workers and buyers contribute” to the economy
• Gradual expansion of business operational capacity from 75% to 100%

More age groups can go out

The Cabinet also decided to gradually allow people of more ages to leave their homes.

Soon, persons 15 to 20 years old and 61 to 65 years old will no longer be required to stay inside their houses at all times. Currently, the strict home quarantine rule applies to anyone below 21 years old and above 60 years old.

Elevating quarantine modes as ‘last resort’

Filipinos are also likely to see less and less upgrading of region-wide quarantine classifications in the coming weeks.

The Duterte Cabinet decided that elevating quarantine classifications for an entire region would only be used as a “last resort.” Instead, provincial or city governments will be asked to quickly and strictly enforce localized lockdowns in specific areas where spikes in infections are detected.

“If COVID-19 cases are rising, still maintain current quarantine level and implement stricter protocols and more localized quarantine,” said Roque.

This could mean that Metro Manila, under general community quarantine since June 1 save for a two-week spell in August, may stay under this classification for a while unless a big reduction in new cases is observed.

Before the new direction set by the Cabinet, Duterte’s coronavirus task force already lessened the frequency of quarantine classification changes – from every two weeks to monthly.

With the more lenient measures, the Palace said the government will keep a close eye on hospital capacity. The goal, said Roque, is to make sure the use of critical care facilities does not reach 70%.

Duterte’s economic managers are keen on easing pandemic restrictions in a bid to make up for the devastating economic blow dealt by the health crisis.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has led the charge, saying early on that Metro Manila and the nearby Calabarzon region should be downgraded to the most lenient quarantine mode – modified general community quarantine – as soon as possible.

He said 60% of the country’s economy depends on these two regions.

Secretary Chua, a protégé of Dominguez’s, had also emphasized the need to further reopen public transportation as not doing so would restrict economic activities. – Rappler.com