Taho, balut, kwek-kwek and other street food vendors can go out and start selling their products as long as they observe quarantine protocols, particularly physical distancing, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Malacañang said.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement as the whole country goes into general community quarantine (GCQ) aside for Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cebu City which are under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from May 16 to 31.
In an interview over GMA-7, Roque said Friday street food vendors may go out since everyone was already allowed to go out and exercise under the MECQ.
“Kung pinapayagan na ‘yung paglabas ng bahay para mag-exercise, tumakbo, magbisikleta, so sa tingin ko, pupwede na (ang street for vendors) basta ‘wag lang sila kukumpol-kumpol. ‘Yan po ang iniiwasan natin,” he said.
“Hindi pwede ‘yung magbabarkadahan maglalakad at ‘yan po ang iniiwasan natin dahil ‘yan ang nakakahawa,” he added.
More businesses, particularly the manufacturing industry, are allowed to operate under the MECQ. However, Roque asked the public to not fake documents just so they can go out.
Roque earlier announced that self-employed Filipinos may make their own IDs so they could travel for work-related reasons.
“Sa panahong ito dapat meron din tayong good faith dahil ang pinapangalagaan naman natin ay kalusugan ng lahat,” he said.
“Alam ko po na maraming mga pilosopo na gagawa niyan pero isipin na lang po nila habang ginagawa po nila baka sila na ang susunod na biktima ng COVID,” he added.
To date, 11,867 people have been infected by COVID; 19, 790 of whom died while 2,337 recovered. (Argyll Geducos)
