ZAMBOANGA CITY–DTI-Region 9 OIC-Regional Director Ceferino J. Rubio recently announced that erring establishments (barbershops, salons and dine-in restos) may face temporary closure if found to be non-compliant to the mandatory minimum health protocols. This after the National IATF Resolution No. 41 dated 29 May 2020 approved DTI’s recommendation to reclassify barbershops and salons industry as Category III, its gradual reopening beginning 7 June 2020, and the stringent health protocols for the industry. Hence, the monitoring activities that will be carried out by DTI, in convergence with the DOLE, DOT, DOH and LGUs, will continue to look into these protocols and standards as stipulated in DTI Memorandum Circular No. 20-28 s. 2020: (for barber shops, and salons) posting of information materials at the entrance and other prominent or conspicuous areas; setting up of floor mat or foot bath, queueing area, calibrated thermal scanner, rubbing alcohol and health checklist at the entrance; installing of the health equipment and system at the workplace; mandatory procedures upon exit; (for dine-in restos) establishing procedures of taking dine-in and delivery orders; and setting-up of service stations.
Rubio said that the main objective of the recently issued DTI Memorandum Order is to apprise businesses, their owners and employees, of the relevant DTI guidelines; and to correct and rectify any violations observed by the DTI. The same order shall cover the regular and conscientious monitoring of the compliance of salons, barbershops, and dine-in restos covered by DTI guidelines in areas subjected to any form of community quarantine. For the monitoring activities for barbershops and salons, DTI is expected to coordinate with DOLE and LGU; for dine-in restos, DTI shall coordinate with DOLE, DOT, DOH and LGU; and for the post-audit, DTI can perform it with or without the presence of the aforementioned agencies.
Rubio stressed that post-audit will also be carried out to focus on the mandatory protocols which shall serve as the basis to issue an outright warning to the establishment on the first instance of violation. The concerned DTI Office shall forward the individual reports of erring establishments to the LGUs for appropriate enforcement and monitoring procedures. The concerned office is also expected to recommend to the LGUs, the following: a.) temporary closure of the establishment should the LGU still find the establishment unable to comply within the following day, and b.) erring establishments may only resume operations once proven able to comply with the mandatory protocols.
Rubio further added that the monitoring activities are now continuously carried out region-wide in the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay and the cities of Zamboanga and Isabela. Monitoring covers those establishments that are already allowed to operate during GCQ for Zamboanga City and MGCQ for the rest of the region. Rubio also emphasized that the following establishments are not yet allowed to operate during GCQ: gyms, fitness studios and sports facilities, entertainment, business, politically, and or sports related mass gatherings, libraries, archives, museums, gambling and betting activities, travel agency, tour operators, reservation services, and activities of membership organizations.
To date, DTI-Region 9 has already reached this far: 350 establishments monitored, 267 establishments with 183% compliance and 83 establishments with partial compliance. ♦
Date of Release: 18 June 2020