DTI eyes resumption of dining in restos under GCQ in two weeks

Allowing dining in restaurants under general community quarantine areas (GCQ) amid the COVID-19 pandemic could be done two weeks from now, Trade Secretary Mon Lopez said.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, Lopez made the announcement three days since dining in restaurants was allowed in modified GCQ areas.

Unlike in GCQ areas where only essential and work-related movement is allowed, leisure and tourism activities are allowed in MGCQ areas albeit on a scaled down level.

“Nilalakad pa natin iyong [allowing] dine in sa GCQ, sana in two weeks, maaprubahan na ng IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force),” Lopez said.

“Kahit 30%, tignan natin kung puede na magsimula,” Lopez added.

At least two restaurant food chains, namely Bistro Group and Foodie Global Concepts with 300 branches nationwide, earlier appealed to the government to allow dining in restaurants under GCQ, considering that most of their branches are already facing closure due to zero income amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bistro Group has 110 restaurant branches including Denny’s Texas Roadhouse, TGIFridays, Red Lobster, Hard RockCafe, Buffalo Wild Wings, Baker and Cook, Modern Shanghai, Fish and Company, Italianni's, Bulgogi Brothers, Watami, The Test Kitchen, Helm, My South Hall, Savage, Juicy, Chex and El Pollo Loco.

Foodie Global Concepts, on the other hand, has 200 restaurant branches including Todd English Food Hall, Tim Ho Wan, DO, Food, Maisen, Pound, Mesa, Lamesa Grill, Kai, Mangan, Ebun, Kitchen, Krocodile Grille and Cerveseria.

The enhanced community quarantine in Luzon and other highly urbanized cities from March 16 to May 31 banned mass transport and mass gathering to prevent COVID-19 transmission, resulting in work stoppage in many industries, including restaurants. — Llanesca T. Panti/RSJ, GMA News