[No more buffet or self-service when you visit your favorite restaurant or fastfood chain. And you are required to fill up a medical checklist. On 31 May 2020, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) released the Guidelines on Minimum Health Protocol for Dine-in Restaurants and Fastfood Establishments. Dine-in is allowed at 50% capacity during the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) period. The full text of the guidelines is reproduced below.]

GUIDELINES ON MINIMUM HEALTH PROTOCOL FOR DINE-IN RESTAURANTS AND FASTFOOD ESTABLISHMENTS 

The following minimum health standards shall be implemented in dine-in restaurants and fastfood establishments: 

A. Posting of information materials at the entrance and other prominent or conspicuous areas on the following: 

1. Enforcement of a no mask, no entry policy; 
2. Social distancing protocols of the establishment; 
3. Maximum number of allowable persons 
4. Regular sanitation schedule and procedures (a 10-minute interval for sanitation in between customers dining-in is required); 
5. Availability of alternative methods of payment, if applicable; 
6. Availability of alternative methods of ordering and picking-up of orders (e.g., online,via text); 
7. Client-personnel interaction protocols; and, 
8. Enforcement measures. 

B. Requiring the placing of the following at the entrance: 

1. Floor mat or foot bath with disinfectant, unless other entrances such as mall entrances leading to the dine-in restaurants have already provided this; 
2. Queueing area while waiting to be seated with a Roving Officer for compliance with social distancing of one (1) meter between persons and that face masks are worn; 
3. A calibrated thermal scanner for temperature reading (Customers with a temperature of more than 37.5 degrees Centigrade, or a cough, colds or shortness of breath shall not be allowed inside the restaurant and shall be advised to proceed to the nearest hospital); 
4. Rubbing alcohol that can be easily sprayed on the hands; and 
5. Health checklist for customers to fill-up. 

C. Installing the following equipment and system at the workplace: 

1. Properly-sanitized tables and chairs (after each customer’s use); 
2. Distancing of tables and chairs to at least one (1) meter apart on all sides; 
3. Face to face seating allowed only with proper dividers; 
4. Visible floor markings for guidance of clients in queueing, preferably color-coded; 
5. Proper ventilation in the establishment; 
6. Visibility and accessibility of sanitizing equipment and tools; 
7. Provision of food menus per table; 
8. Contactless order-taking; 
9. Cover pieces of furniture of porous materials in plastic for ease of sanitation; 
10. Personal effects of personnel in plastic bags and stored in an area inaccessible to clients;
11. Clean trash bins for used papers and used tissue; 
12. Clean washrooms and toilets with sufficient soap, water and tissue and toilet paper; 
13. Disinfection of high risk areas such as order and bar counters, every 30 minutes. 

D. Taking dine-in orders: 

1. For counter menus, counter calls the assigned number, immediately takes customer’s order/s, receive payment, sanitize hands and advise customer to sanitize hands and to wait for order at their assigned table; 
2. For single-use table menus, upon entry, customers shall be escorted to assigned table with corresponding number, who will select order by checking choices in the menu placed on the table; 
3. For non-single use menu, upon entry, shall be escorted to assigned table with corresponding number, who will select orders from the menu placed on the table;
4. For b and c, both customer/s and server sanitizes hands after placing order and/or payment; 
5. For b and c, handing of payment to server after confirming orders is encouraged. 

E. Kitchen protocols: 

1. Group workers according to task to reduce transmission throughout the workplace in the event one of them become ill; 
2. Establish directional arrows on the kitchen floor to control flow of traffic and reduce interaction between cooking and clearing area; 
3. Restrict access into food preparation area from workers and other staff who are not involved in food preparation; 
4. Wearing of mask is a must; 
5. Unnecessary conversations among workers should be avoided while in the process of preparing or cooking food; 
6. Clean appliances, containers, and equipment between use; 
7. Sanitize high touch equipment, such as freezer/refrigerator/oven handles and knobs in accordance with applicable government protocols; 
8. Workers should wash their hands properly before and after leaving the kitchen and using or touching any equipment; 
9. Employees should not spit on kitchen floors and sinks, only on trash bins and areas designated for trash. 

F. Ensuring proper health and safety of all personnel at all times: 

1. No work for personnel with COVID-19 symptoms, or with exposure to COVID-19 patients;
2. Checking and recording of personnel’s temperature check before and after work shift, as well as whereabouts before work to be sent to the restaurant or fastfood manager via SMS; 
3. No wearing of pieces of jewelry (e.g., rings, bracelets, watches, earrings, exposed body piercings, etc.); 
4. Observance of proper personal hygiene (e.g. clipped fingernails, observance of company-imposed personal sanitation, etc.); 
5. Strict observance of social distancing measures in all parts of the establishment including cashier counter, beverage bar, kitchen and back areas; 
6. Washing of hands at least once every hour or after every encounter with guests; 
7. Keeping the distance of 1.5meters between personnel; 
8. Mandatory wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as, but not limited to face mask, face shield, gloves, and hair cap; 
9. Mandatory wearing of closed shoes; 
10. Observance of the proper disposal of disposable equipment, utensils and plates; 
11. Observance and enforcement of the client-personnel interaction protocols; 
12. Mandatory declaration of health and whereabouts prior to every duty in case contact tracing becomes necessary. 

G. Setting-up of service stations: 

1. No buffet and self-service areas for food bars, condiments and utensils; 
2. Designated area for take away/pick up; 
3. Separate hand washing sink/basin for kitchen staff and dine-in customers; 
4. Contactless drive-thru counters; 
5. Closure of play areas. 

H. Mandatory procedures upon exit: 

1. No physical contact during payment 
2. Provision of small trays for accepting cash; and 
3. Offering alternative modes of payment, if applicable. 
4. Regular sanitation of high-contact areas and surfaces (e.g., door handles, common tables, etc.) 

I. Delivery whenever applicable: 

1. Take orders through phone calls, emails or any online mode; 
2. Implement staggered start times for food delivery drivers to prevent crowding at dispatch locations; 
3. Assign drop-off sites right outside a door outside the building with easily noticeable signage or markers; 
4. Coordinate with delivery drivers regarding drop-off locations and other instructions prior to date of delivery; 
5. Adjust practices for proof of delivery to avoid in-person signatures through the use of online confirmation; 
6. Include vehicles and drivers in cleaning, hygiene and wearing of mask protocols. 

The Manager on Duty shall ensure compliance of all customers and personnel inside the restaurant or fastfood establishment with the minimum public health standards. 

Dine-in restaurants and fastfood establishments need to comply with these health standards to operate. This will be the new normal. Please wait for further announcements on the date of reopening. 

NOTE: These guidelines shall be on top of the DTI-DOLE Interim Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19 dated 30 April 2020, as well as the Good Manufacturing Practices in restaurants and fastfood establishments. 

• Author
• Recent Posts

P&L Law

Pamaos & Labao Law Firm (P&L Law) is a full-service professional legal firm, located in Metro Manila, Philippines | Telephone: (+632) 7799-0589 | Email: info@pnl-law.com | Website: http://pnl-law.com

Latest posts by P&L Law (see all)

• Extension of Filing Periods and Suspension of Hearings for March 29 to April 4, 2021: SC Administrative Circular No. 14-2021 (Full Text) - March 28, 2021
• ECQ Bubble for NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal: Resolution No. 106-A (Full Text) - March 27, 2021
• Guidelines on the Administration of COVID-19 Vaccines in the Workplaces (Labor Advisory No. 3) - March 12, 2021