Markets were asked to implement a “one entry, one exit” policy to ensure that social distancing is observed during the enhanced community quarantine period.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles made the statement after receiving reports that some public markets which reopened last Black Saturday appeared to ignore protocols regarding social distancing.
Nograles was particularly referring to Balintawak Market in Quezon City which was flooded with people despite social distancing guidelines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to contain COVID-19.
Nograles said that while it has been agreed that retail operations at the Balintawak Market would be temporarily halted, he said there should be a system to avoid similar scenarios in the future.
He said one of the systems they are looking at is the one entry, one exit policy in order to control the people entering and exiting the markets.
“Tulad ng ‘pag bumili ka sa supermarket or sa convenience store or sa drug store, one entry, one exit lang ‘yan. eh. Puwede mo tantsahin ilan ang pwede pumasok to make sure na may social distancing,” Nograles said.
Another system the IATF was studying was the creation of joint social distancing teams that would be deployed to markets to ensure social distancing measures are followed.
They will be made up of joint forces from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and with the assistance of the local government units (LGUs). (Argyll Geducos)