DAVAO CITY – The regional and provincial offices of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) across Davao Region have intensified their monitoring of dine-in restaurants, barbershop/salons, and other establishments that are allowed to operate during a specific quarantine category. This is to ensure that they have been complying with the prescribed guidelines, especially when operating under the new normal.  

The monitoring activity is based on several issuances, including the following: a) DTI-DOLE Interim Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19; b) Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 20-28, series of 2020, which sets the minimum health protocol to be followed by salons and barbershops; and c) MC 20-37, Series of 2020 or the Guidelines on the Implementation of Minimum Health Protocols for Dine-In Services by Restaurants and Fast food establishments and the Joint Memorandum Circular 20-04A which was issued by the two agencies. 

As of August 26, a total of 678 business establishments have already been monitored across the region. This is composed of 367 dine-in restaurants, 199 barbershops/salons, eight business process outsourcing companies (BPOs), and 104 other establishments.  

The bulk of the working places monitored were in Davao De Oro at 160, followed by Davao City at 152, next is Davao del Norte at 130, Davao Oriental at 117, Davao del Sur at 67, and Davao Occidental at 52. Workplaces with partial compliance were advised to institute corrective measures to ensure adherence to the minimum health protocols.    

DTI-Davao Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi affirmed that such activity is important to notify businesses, their owners and employees, of the pertinent guidelines issued by the government. 

“We understand that everyone is still adjusting to the new normal. Nevertheless, we have to ensure that consumers are continuously protected no matter the situation is,” Ambi said. 

Ambi further noted that strict compliance must be observed constantly. 

“We would like to emphasize that DTI is not all about giving sanctions to violators. We are here to help them improve their operations as well. It is always our goal to enable businesses while we continuously protect our consumers,” she said. 

Ambi advised all Dabawenyos to heed the call of the government to stay at home and follow the minimum standards of health protocols to fight the pervasive COVID 19.♦

Date of Release: 10 September 2020