BAGUIO CITY March 26 – The local government will temporarily allow the operation of hardware, office supply, electrical supply and auto supply stores on March 27-29, 2020 to cater to the needs of the residents from the said establishments.
Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong issued Executive Order No. 69, series of 2020 allowing the temporary operation of the aforesaid stores on the prescribed dates from 9 am to 4 pm only.
Further, he ordered the managements of the said establishments to strictly observe strict hygiene and sanitation and practice the required social distancing within their stores.
However, the establishment owners were reminded that only essential and skeletal employees must be made to report to work during the days that will be allowed to temporarily operate.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte declared the entire Luzon under enhanced community quarantine as part of the government’s aggressive approach to prevent the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the country.
The city mayor recognized that the materials need to produce the personal protective equipment (PPEs) of frontliners, particularly health workers which are now lacking, can only be purchased from establishments that have been earlier ordered closed by the local government during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.
According to him, service vehicles being used by frontliners, essential utility workers, and those transporting supplies and materials to critical services within the city must also be well maintained and should be always ready for immediate use during these trying times.
He pointed out that considering that urgency to protect the safety and welfare of the frontliners, who are bravely continuing with their assigned duties and responsibilities in the light of the clear and present danger brought by the deadly virus, there is a need to temporarily allow the operation of the aforesaid establishments subject to strict rules and regulations to cater to the rapidly increasing needs of the people, especially the frontliners.
Earlier, the local government declared a citywide community quarantine last March 16, 2020 as part of the recommended precautionary measures to prevent the rapid spread of the deadly virus but the same was subsequently superseded by the President’s declaration of a Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.
The city crafted the rules and regulations through various issuances that should be strictly followed by the people during the enhanced community quarantine that included the stoppage of operation of the hardware, office supply, electrical and auto supply stores in the different parts of the city.
Magalong urged the owners of the said establishments to strictly observe the prescribed rules and regulations governing their temporary operations to prevent the local government from issuing succeeding orders that will eventually put a stop in their operation until the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine since adherence to the regulations will ensure their orderly operations in the coming weeks.
By Dexter A. See
