MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry on Tuesday said it will soon propose the resumption of more indoor activities such as gyms that have remained closed within the "NCR Plus" bubble.
Secretary Ramon Lopez told ONE News' "Agenda" that they will meet with experts and eventually with the pandemic task force this week for the said move.
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"We shall be proposing the inclusion of indoor activities in a safe manner," he said, partly in Filipino. "In the sense that they will be allowed to open even in a small capacity."
Fitness centers and gyms in NCR Plus were shut down in end-March as the areas were returned to a stricter quarantine classification. Government has yet to allow its resumption despite the bubble shifting to General Community Quarantine.
The Philippine Fitness Alliance has since appealed to reopen the said establishments. In a statement, it said no virus transmissions had been reported in their facilities, and many workers in the fitness industry have already lost their jobs.
"While we fully understand the threat of the pandemic to the public, we believe that we are actually a partner in boosting the immunity of people," the group said. "Now, if the government really insists that we are a public threat, then can our industry be given support or concessions as a distressed industry?"
The PFA represents some of the country's largest fitness chains such as Anytime Fitness, Celebrity Fitness, Fitness First, and Gold's Gym, to name a few.
Lopez said there may be word on their proposal to the IATF by Thursday. Apart from gyms, he said too that indoor tourist attractions such as museums are eyed for resumption.
"This (indoor activities) is one that was left closed as we were gradually reopening," he continued, partly in Filipino. "These are probably next after other sectors have reopened.
Health authorities and experts have noted a downward trend in new COVID-19 cases in NCR Plus.
Additional infections continue to be at over 5,000, still far from the pre-surge number of around 1,000 per day.
The Philippines' overall count has stood at 1.27 million, with nearly 21,000 deaths and 1.19 million recoveries.