No dine-in for customers without vax cards —Resto Ph

Customers who fail to present vaccination cards would not be allowed to avail of dine-in services in the National Capital Region (NCR), according to Restaurant Owners of the Philippines (Resto Ph).

This took effect Thursday, the first day of the implementation of Alert Level 4 in NCR in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under Alert Level 4, outdoor or al fresco dining services in restaurants and eateries will operate at a maximum of 30% venue/seating capacity regardless of vaccination status.

On the other hand, indoor dining or dine-in services may be allowed at a limited 10% venue/seating capacity but will cater only to individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in addition to their allowed outdoor or al fresco capacity.

Resto Ph president Eric Teng said fully vaccinated customers need only to present their local government unit-issued vaccination card to avail of dine-in services.

“We reminded our members to be vigilant with enforcing the safety protocols. We post signs asking guests to present their vaccine card before being seated indoors,” Teng said.

“Surprisingly, there are numerous guests wanting to dine indoors without vax cards, who have to be turned away, unless there are outdoor dining spaces available,” he added.

The restaurant owners group chief clarified that while unvaccinated individuals are not allowed to dine indoors “unvaccinated guests are allowed to dine outdoors. They only need to be vaccinated to dine indoors.”

Nonetheless, Teng said that “overall, the day has been positive for restaurant operators.”

Resto Ph earlier welcomed the government's decision to place Metro Manila under Alert Level 4. 

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez earlier said that P180 million in revenues are expected to be recovered by restaurants, salons, and barbershops which are allowed to operate under Alert Level 4, albeit at a limited capacity.

The same capacity limitations in indoor and outdoor dining establishments apply to personal care services such as beauty salons and barbershops.

Teng, meanwhile, said that some of Resto Ph’s member-restaurants are also offering special promos for health care workers as “a gesture of gratitude and support.” --KBK, GMA News