The cities of Pasay and Taguig in Metro Manila are now implementing new curfew hours to help businesses regain losses amid the coronavirus disease pandemic.
Members of the Pasay City Council approved on June 19 Ordinance 6114 and was signed by Mayor Imelda Rubiano stating the new curfew hours will be from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., two hours shorter than the previous 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Period.
In Taguig, City Ordinance 22 was approved by the local government amending existing Ordinance 7, stating the new curfew hours in the city would now be from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Dispensable travels and mobility will be limited in the city within these hours, according to Mayor Lino Edgardo Cayetano.
"Everyone is reminded to follow the rules and regulations set forth by the local government through the Safe City Task Force to maintain the peace and order in the city and to keep every Taguigeño safe," he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte placed Metro Manila under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) until June 30 when more industries and businesses are allowed to open and limited public transportation are permitted to resume.
Rubiano said the adjustment would help businesses to recoup losses during the pandemic, noting the health crisis had affected many business establishments in the city, particularly those in the food and retail industries.
“These industries help drive Pasay’s economy,” said Rubiano.
But she added: “We still have to observe health guidelines even as we stretch the number of operating hours for our local businesses as well as the travel time window for our city’s working population and those on important errands.”
The city chief executive cited recent studies by banking giant HSBC and the National Economic
Development Authority (NEDA) which showed that the arts, entertainment and recreation industry’s revenue loss amounted to 82.3 percent of pre-COVID levels; while the travel, hotel and restaurant industry lost 81.9 percent of revenues.
“If the city government doesn’t intervene to help jump start the local economy, we may see a flat or negative growth,” said Rubiano.
Local officials in Taguig said the adjustment of curfew hours was necessary to give time for residents and non-residents alike, especially those working, to run their important errands and travel back to their homes.
