SAFE MALLING: Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago, together with Pampanga Police Provincial Office (PPO) Director Colonel Jean Fajardo, reiterates on Saturday, May 23, 2020 the protocols and guidelines for malls and supermarkets for the safety of both their employees and consumers.
“Tuloy ang operations but please do not sacrifice health protocols, do not sacrifice the lives of our cabalen.”
This was how Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago urged mall and supermarket managers who responded to the call for a coordination meeting of Pampanga Provincial Police Office (PPO) Director Colonel Jean Fajardo on Saturday, May 23.
The meeting was conducted to discuss the current challenges for malls and supermarkets in the City of San Fernando and also to reiterate the guidelines issued by the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) for the implementation of health protocols inside their establishments.
“Ayaw naming ipasara ang mga mall because you are part of the essential and permitted establishments. Natutulungan din ninyo ang mga cabalen natin dahil nakakabalik-trabaho na sila. But, of course, we also want their health safety kaya kailangang huwag nating i-compromise ‘yon,” the mayor said.
Meanwhile, Fajardo gave her recommendations to the establishments following their inspection last week.
“Isa sa mga rekomendasyon natin sa kanila ay ang paglalagay ng mga markers o iyong tinatawag nating ‘square of life’ para po ang ating mga mamimili ‘di na mag-iisip kung saan sila tatayo at kung gaano ba kalayo ang dapat nilang i-impose sa mga sarili habang naghihintay,” she said.
The officer also ordered the malls to be strict in implementing their infection control policy.
“Ni-require din natin na magkaroon ng separate bin para sa mga naisukat na mga damit at hindi ibabalik yun hangga’t hindi nasa-sanitize. Dapat din maglagay sila ng plastic separator para hindi magkaroon ng close contact sa pagitan ng consumers at employees,” Fajardo added.
The officer further reminded the malls and establishments that part of the DTI guidelines is for them to provide company shuttles for their employees who are already reporting to work.
“Isa sa mga guidelines ng national government natin, ang ating mga permitted companies should provide company shuttles para sa kanilang mga manggagawa. Kaya ‘yong inilaan ng capitol at city government na mga ‘libreng sakay’ services ay parang ayuda o additional na service lamang para matugunan ang mas malaking bilang ng mga manggagawa.”
In an interview, Police Lieutenant Colonel Paul Ynigo Gamido, San Fernando Police Station Chief, said non-compliance to the protocols and guidelines will mean closure of the establishment.
“Basically, ayaw nating mangyari dito sa San Fernando iyong nangyari sa ibang mga mall na ipinasara ng LGU dahil hindi nila nasunod ang mga protocol. Pero kung ang mga empleyado nila or the management itself is not following the issued guidelines and protocols, then, that would be a ground for closure,” Gamido remarked.
For the part of the malls and supermarkets, they agreed to comply with the guidelines issued by the DTI and the additional protocols/standards set by the provincial and the city governments.
The meeting was also attended by the Incident Management Team led by Dr. Renely P. Tungol, Incident Commander; Raymond Del Rosario, City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Officer; Joseph Garcia, Business License and Permit Division Officer; Inspector Roderick Marquez, San Fernando Fire Station Chief; Louie Clemente, Public Safety and Coordinating officer; and, Abigail S. David, City Information Officer.
