Automotive repair shop opens to customers. Photos by Ernie Esconde
BALANGA CITY — Some business establishments opened on Saturday, the start of the modified enhanced community quarantine in Bataan and other Central Luzon provinces imposed by the national Interagency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases until May 31.
The establishments here ceased operations since mid-March after the province was declared under ECQ due to the coronavirus disease.
Some auto repair shops and automotive stores resumed operations at 8 a.m. while malls at 10 a.m.
Cecille Tuazon, Servitek branch supervisor, said they temporarily closed shop last March 16 and came back only this Saturday but still at a loss until when they will remain open.
Some cars were already at the repair shop racks being repaired.
“Dala-dalawang tao, tatlong mekaniko, dalawangcashier ang pumapasok. Salit-salitan pasok,” Tuazon said when asked of the status of shop workers.
A few other automotive supply stores along the Diversion Road in Balanga were already open while many remained closed.
The frontage of some stores had plastic dividers with the sign “Please observe social distancing.”
“Pailan-ilan pa lamang ang namimili. Hindi pa nila alam na bukas na kami,” a storekeeper said.
Two of the biggest malls – Vista Mall and New Star—in Balanga City were also back in operation but customers have to follow strict procedures before they can enter.
At the Vista Mall, customers have to wait on monoblock chairs at every entrance of the mall. They were only permitted to enter once earlier customers inside have already finished with their shopping.
Mall visitors have to pass through a foot bath disinfectant rug in every entrance of Vista Mall. And they have to wear face masks.
This was also true with New Star where two customers can only go inside after two were to leave the mall. Every customer has to be thermal–scanned for body temperature and hand wash with sanitizer.
Ernie Nava, New Star supervisor, said only 50 of the more than 100 employees of the mall were told to work starting May 16 until the end of the month. “Sila pa lamang ang ipinatawag,” he said.
