IATF allows mall sales, promo events to revive economy

Promotional events inside malls would be allowed in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ (MGCQ), Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.  (File photo: Justin Lim/Unsplash)

MANILA – Malls and other business establishments may now hold sales and other marketing events to spur consumer activity amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis, Malacañang said on Friday.

“Ang mga establishments at mga malls may hold activities para magkaroon ng economic o business activity. Ito po ‘yung mga sales, pero subject po ito sa DTI guidelines in the operation of malls and shopping malls (Establishments and malls may hold activities to spur economic or business activity. These are sale events but they would still be subject to Department of Trade and Industry guidelines on the operation of malls and shopping malls),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Laging Handa briefing.

Promotional events inside malls would be allowed in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ (MGCQ), Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

“In yesterday’s (Thursday) IATF (meeting), IATF approved DTI’s proposal to allow again mall-wide sale to generate more economic activities,” Lopez said in a message to reporters, referring to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

This will be allowed nationwide, except for Covid-19 hotspot areas where the local government units (LGUs) can limit the allowed age range of 18 years to 65 years, Lopez added.

“Also on (the) easing of curfew hours, we enjoin LGUs to remove or ease up on their policy on curfew, without sacrificing (the) enforcement of health protocols, to generate more jobs and income opportunities. This includes allowing necessary business establishments and workers to open or travel within curfew hours,” he said.

The government previously prohibited sale events, marketing events, and other promotions that tend to attract large crowds to prevent the transmission of Covid-19.

The Department of Tourism, meanwhile, has been given the authority to determine the allowable operational capacity for accommodation establishments, as well as the ancillary establishments within their premises.

 (With reports from Kris Crismundo/PNA)