A COUNCILOR has asked Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong to allow senior citizens to enter the city market and other business establishments during their scheduled Mall and Market (M&M) days to buy necessities.
Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda asked the mayor to issue an executive order to make this possible, saying: "It is now the plea of the senior citizens that aside from Sunday, they shall also be allowed to go out and enter the market and the malls and business establishments during their scheduled M&M days."
She said there are senior citizens who live alone and need to buy their necessities, adding that only few public transport is available, making mobility difficult for many.
"There were senior citizens who tried to enter the groceries, mall and market during their Mall and Market days but were refused to enter because they are senior citizens, and thus are allowed only on Sundays. Essential needs are needs that must be purchased immediately. Some seniors complain that it is an unjust policy not to allow them to go out during their M&M schedule, which deprives them of the right to meet their essential needs on time," said Tabanda.
Under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) guidelines, senior citizens are not allowed to go out of their residences except for those who are still employed in essential establishments or living alone.
In the City of Baguio, the senior citizens are allowed to go out only on Sundays, which has been declared a lockdown day. Unfortunately, during Sundays, the Market and most of the business establishments are also closed.