Malacañang on Tuesday said it sees nothing wrong with the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) conduct of out-of-town conferences since it is allowed under regulations approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

This, after the DAR, led by Secretary John Castriciones, conducted a 2020 Year-end Assessment and 2021 Planning Conference for Luzon Group at Traveler’s Hotel, Subic Bay Free Port Zone (SBFZ) in Zambales from Jan. 25 to 28.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said business-related gatherings, seminars and other meetings, incentives, conferencing, and exhibition (MICE)-related activities may now be conducted in areas under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) at a 50 percent venue capacity.

MICE-related activities may also be conducted in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) at a 30 percent venue capacity.

“In-allow po ng IATF iyong mga holding ng mga trainings na ganito provided susundin iyong maximum capacity (The IATF allows the holding of trainings like this provided they follow the maximum capacity),” he said.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) earlier said that the conduct of MICE-related activities was greatly affected by the restrictions imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Currently, Metro Manila and Davao City will remain under GCQ until the end of February.

The Cordillera region, Tacloban City, Iligan City, and the provinces of Batangas, Davao del Norte, and Lanao del Sur will also be placed under GCQ until the end of the month.

The rest of the country will remain under the least restrictive MGCQ.

Under the guidelines for tourists visiting Subic Bay Freeport Zone, guests will be subjected to health checks for symptoms of Covid-19 at the sentries/gates of SBFZ and tourist establishments/facilities.

Persons whose temperature exceeds 37.5 degrees Centigrade, despite repeated scan, shall be denied entry if at the gate/border or endorsed to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Public Health and Safety Department by the establishment visited.

Visitors from GCQ areas will be required to provide a health certificate by a public or private hospital or local government unit health office within three days prior to arrival while visitors coming from MGCQ areas will only be required to provide their proposed itinerary. (PNA)