Retailers are concerned that neither their customers nor their employees will come under MECQ, after the government allowed most businesses to resume operations but banned mass transportation, a business group said.
To make matters worse, they are worried that mall operators might start charging them for rent, said the Philippine Retailers Association, at a time when they are not even sure if they would any have any workforce or consumers.
PRA Vice Chairman Roberto Claudio called out the inconsistencies in the new quarantine rules, which still have not been ironed out by the government on May 15, the last day of the enhanced community quarantine.
The inconsistencies he spotted pertained to the guidelines under the modified ECQ, which, among others, essentially allowed retail stores in malls to open again as long as only up to 50 percent of the workforce are on site.
The problem, however, is that the government banned public transportation, despite knowing that not everyone has his or her own car, and that not all companies have their own shuttles.
“No one will come. So [it will] not [be] practical to open stores. [But] retailers’s concern is that we may be forced to pay rentals even if we are unable to open for lack of customers, or [that our] staff [are] unable to report to work,” Claudio told the Inquirer.
“Company shuttles are not cost effective and will not be practical if your employees come from all parts of NCR [the National Capital Region]. Policies have to be synchronized with the other policies being implemented,” he added.
PRA is a business group with over 400 member companies. Roberto “Toby” Claudio, Jr. is the chairman and CEO of popular sports retail company Toby’s Sports.
In a Laging Handa online briefing on Saturday, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez was asked the crucial question on public transportation.
He said companies should provide their workers a place to stay or company shuttles.
He said companies should provide their workers a place to stay or company shuttles.
Another inconsistency is the strict requirement of staying at home during the MECQ.
“Yet MECQ [rules] state strict stay [at] home measures but people will be allowed to leave their homes only to obtain essential goods. So, most will not be allowed to malls,” said Claudio.
“Yet MECQ [rules] state strict stay [at] home measures but people will be allowed to leave their homes only to obtain essential goods. So, most will not be allowed to malls,” said Claudio.
