MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City government on Thursday said it will implement stricter measures in all public markets in the city in an effort to further stop the spread of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a statement, the city government said it has instructed all city- and privately-owned markets to compute their vacant space or walkway-to-per individual ratio, and observe a space at least one square meter each person to ensure the strict enforcement of physical distancing.
“Kung ang walkway nila ay may sukat na 20 square meters, dapat ang papapasukin lang sa palengke ay dalawampung katao. Inaatasan din natin ang market owners na maging responsable sa pagpapatupad ng kaayusan ng pila papasok sa kanilang palengke,” Assistant City Administrator for Operations Alberto Kimpo said.
Market authorities are likewise directed to designate single entry and exit points in every market to prevent mass entry.
Sinks, clean water, and alcohol for handwashing must also be made available and placed near the market entrances and exits.
“Handwashing areas should be accessible to the public, even inside our markets. We ultimately want to stop this virus from spreading,” said Retired Police Colonel Procorpio Lipana, the City’s Market Development and Administration Department (MDAD) Head for Operations.
All vendors are also required to wear face masks and gloves.
Market-goers are likewise asked to wear face masks at all times and to present their quarantine passes.
“Maglalagay din tayo ng CCTV monitors lalo na sa mga malalaking palengke para mabantayan at masiguro natin ang kanilang kaayusan,” Kimpo said.
The city government said that all markets in Quezon City will be open for business from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
It also directed barangays to coordinate with nearby markets to assign a specific day or time of the week where their constituents can buy essential goods from the said markets.
To prevent overcrowding in pubic markets, the city government said it will continue to provide alternative sources of goods such as the deployment of Fresh Market on wheels to different barangays to sell fresh produce as initiated by small business and cooperatives in the city.
Similarly, the Kadiwa Mobile Markets in partnership with the Department of Agriculture will also make regular rounds bringing fruits, vegetables, and other goods straight to homes and communities.
The city government also said it will ask all supermarkets and groceries to extend operating hours from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily to accommodate more shoppers for the purpose of lessening crowds in local markets.
Mayor Joy Belmonte, meanwhile, stressed that private market owners and their stall owners are responsible for maintaining the volume of market-goers inside a market at any given time to ensure that proper social distancing is observed.
“We understand that our residents still need to go out and buy their essentials such as food. That’s why we make sure to keep them safe by enforcing the protocols of social distancing and the wearing of facemasks,” she said.
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