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The Philippine Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) on Wednesday called on government to be “frugal” in its implementation of quarantine protocols following its policy reversal Tuesday night that left businesses and workers stunned.

“Authorities must be prudent in prematurely announcing half-studied policies or policy shifts as they have tremendous impact on business operations and people’s daily lives,” said PCCI acting president Edgardo Lacson.

Last Tuesday night, hours before Metro Manila was scheduled to shift to a more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ) under which some business are allowed to operate and increase capacity, the government cancelled its implementation as it irons out rules on a new approach.

National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 spokesperson Restituto Padilla said the shift of Metro Manila to general community quarantine has been postponed as mayors raised concerns and the guidelines should be expanded to address the concerns of other parties.

“Marami ring lumabas na mga katanungan doon na maaaring hindi pa rin naging bahagi ng mga nakalatag o nakahandang guidelines,” Padilla said.

Padilla added the delay in the implementation of the policy shift is a lesson learned for the government to prepare all the guidelines before making an announcement.

According to Lacson, this last minute shift has financial consequences on businesses that already prepared to operate under a more relaxed quarantine.

“There is a huge financial cost on business enterprises when plans and preparations are dislocated by the last minute cancellation or postponement of the anticipated relaxation of the quarantine protocols… Authorities must be careful in recklessly raising public expectations that will not be matched by the outcome,” he said.

“There is a risk that it might cause disappointment followed by frustrations and could trigger depression and despair,” he added.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government said Wednesday guidelines for the implementation of granular lockdowns in Metro Manila would be released soon.

“I would expect, in the next 2 to 3 days ay mare-release na po ‘yun (it will be released),” Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said.

Metro Manila will be under the stricter modified enhanced community quarantine until Sept. 15.