ZAMBOANGA CITY—DTI Region 9 OIC-Regional Director Ceferino J. Rubio, Assistant Regional Director Engr. Al-Zamir I. Lipae, and Zamboanga City Provincial Director Grace Aduca led the Zamboanga City leg of the Joint DTI DOLE DOT and LGU Zamboanga City in the series of region-wide monitoring of barber shops, salons, and dine-in restos in the region on Monday, 15 June 2020. LGU Zamboanga City was represented by Mr. Benjie Barredo of the ZC Licensing Office, Tony Buen of the City Engineer’s Office, Orlando Abarabar of the City Health Office, Allan Sanson of the City Planning and Development and Vonn Enriquez of the City Treasurer’s Office. Joining the team from the other government agencies are Joseph Jamil and Veronica Arjona of DOT-Region 9, Corazon Falloria, Jocelyn Cabayacruz and Marcelina Arcaya of DOLE-Region 9, and Joey Barredo of Brigada TV.
Included in the monitoring were: barber shops and salons- Uni-Barber Shop, Fix Bench Salon, David’s Salon and dine-in restos- Mandarin Resto, JCO, Mang Inasal, and KFC and other establishments like Globe. Initial findings on the protocols carried out include presence of waiting area outside the establishment, foot bath, temperature check and disinfection upon entrance for both employees and clients; filling out of health checklist for employees, safe distancing of 1 to 1.5 meters among employees and clients, and use of PPE (overall, and/or face mask) for employees.
Rubio said that 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 June 7, 2020, and the stringent health protocols for the industry. Hence, the monitoring activities that will be carried out by DTI in convergence with the abovementioned agencies 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 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. Upon receipt, the concerned DTI Office shall forward the individual reports of erring establishments to the proper LGU for appropriate enforcement and monitoring procedures. The concerned office is also expected to recommend to the proper LGU: 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 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 stressed 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.