https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Montserrat:wght@400;500;700&display=swapstylesheettext/css

Guidelines for Businesses Re-Opening During GCQ

  • Jun 05, 2020
  • By Miles Malferrari

#


With the country’s recent shift towards General Community Quarantine (GCQ), business establishments have been preparing for the re-opening of their establishments. Adjustments have had to be made in order to cope with the realities of the “new normal” while the world is still on its way to finding a cure for COVID-19. 


Despite all the challenges, business goes on as usual for those who continue to serve their customers with utmost dedication and perseverance, while having to comply with the new guidelines issued by the government. It is often the private sector and small businesses that continue to provide quality services to customers in need of adequate avenues of goods and services that these businesses can provide.



In line with its mandate to protect and alleviate the potential spread of COVID-19, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), together with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have issued the latest guidelines and minimum health protocols to be complied with under the “new normal.” The latest guidelines may be accessed here: https://www.dti.gov.ph/covid19/issuances/.


More and more businesses have been allowed to open amidst the pandemic as long as safety protocols are complied with. These safety protocols are implemented to ensure the safety and health of both the workers and the customers, especially since the toll of the number of cases of COVID-19 within the country has been steadily increasing. The DTI-issued guidelines apply to all workplaces, employers and workers in the private sector, wherein business establishments may be subject to random inspections to ensure compliance with the minimum health standards put in place.



Some of the guidelines include the posting of health-related signages that remind customers to wear face masks at all times, in accordance with the government’s mandate, as well as to practice social distancing of at least one (1) meter between two persons. Likewise, business establishments are now required to place a floor mat or bath with disinfectant at the entrance of their business establishments. For those that tend to have queues, said establishments must have a Roving Officer to ensure the compliance with the minimum social distancing of one (1) meter between persons.


Business establishments must also install numerous equipment such as barriers between the customers and the employees to prevent the potential transmission of the virus from the customers to the employees, and to employ methods to ensure the least physical contact possible. 


For food establishments, for example, methods must be implemented in order to cope with contactless order-taking. The guidelines also provide for the system which must be followed during dine-ins and take-outs, where social distancing must strictly be observed among customers and between the staff and customers. 


Compliance with these minimum guidelines are essential for Food SMEs to continue operating under the “new normal.” Despite these numerous adjustments that must be made, the safety of both the business and its customers are of utmost concern. The cooperation of both will hopefully get the economy back on track, albeit gradually.




Related Articles



Why Your Health is they Key to Your Success
Why Your Health is they Key to Your Success
Nov 03, 2019
  • BY Miles Malferrari
  • First, let’s define “health”. Circling back to Google, health is “the state of being free from illness or injury.'' E...
    COVID-19 Variants and Vaccines-- What You Need To Know
    COVID-19 Variants and Vaccines-- What You Need To Know
    Mar 31, 2021
  • BY ALLCARE Team
  • As the Philippines’ COVID cases continue to climb every day, the government has decided to shift the NCRplus areas ba...
    Insurance in the Philippines-- what you should know about it
    Insurance in the Philippines-- what you should know about it
    Feb 23, 2021
  • BY ALLCARE Team
  • Over the years, the insurance industry has seen significant growth in the country. More and more Filipinos now unders...
    MECQ Guidelines for SMEs
    MECQ Guidelines for SMEs
    May 22, 2020
  • BY Miles Malferrari
  • With the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) put into place, more stores like yours can now flip back your ...
    How Prolonged Social Isolation Can Affect Your Mental Health
    How Prolonged Social Isolation Can Affect Your Mental Health
    Apr 15, 2020
  • BY Miles Malferrari
  • We are now weeks into community quarantine. Every day since this started, we’ve been bombarded with the same type of ...
    5 Ways to Support our Healthcare Heroes this World Health Worker Week
    5 Ways to Support our Healthcare Heroes this World Health Worker Week
    Apr 04, 2022
  • BY ALLCARE Team
  • Let us celebrate World Health Worker Week through these 5 ways to help health care workers during and after the pande...