DEPARTMENT of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III has encouraged mall operators to arm their security officers with one-meter wooden sticks to enforce physical distancing.
Duque issued the statement when he inspected SM Megamall on Wednesday, December 9, 2020.
He stressed that safety protocols should continue to be observed as the economy is gradually reopened amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
A day earlier, photos of a huge crowd that ignored physical distancing rules at the soft opening of SM City Mindpro in Zamboanga City were circulated on social media.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana reminded mall operators that their security personnel are responsible for enforcing safety protocols such as physical distancing, and wearing of face masks and face shields.
He said mall operators who fail to enforce these protocols face administrative sanctions.
“Administrative po most likely ang magiging sanctions (on) erring mall owners and even other establishments where people gather without minimum caution against the virus. In this case, we may anticipate the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), DOH or DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) to impose appropriate sanctions within the bounds of the law,” he said.
The police, for its part, will enforce local ordinances mandating the observance of health standards. Violators will be penalized based on the local ordinance.
Policemen have been directed to carry one-meter sticks mainly to ensure that the public stays at least one meter apart from each other in public places. Officials said policemen may also use the stick against those who turn violent or resist arrest for violating distancing protocols.
DILG spokesperson and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said they will investigate the failure to enforce social distancing at SM Mindpro in Zamboanga City on December 8.
He said mall security personnel should check if safety protocols are being followed inside the malls.
“Unang-una, mukhang mali ‘yung galaw nung mga security guards, kasi parang hindi puwedeng sa pintuan lang sila mag-control ng tao. Nakikita natin sa maraming mall sa buong bansa, sa labas pa lang ang pila inaayos na kaagad ang guard,” he said.
“Ang nangyari doon, nagkumpol-kumpulan sila doon sa pintuan and they were insisting to come in. So wala na silang magawa. And then eventually pinapasok na lang sila. So nagkaroon ng parang some sort of a stampede,” he added.
For his part, SM Supermalls president Steven Tan said they did not promote the soft opening of the Zamboanga mall.
“We just actually soft opened yesterday we did not actually make grand announcement. Our tenants were discouraged to do any promotion para ma-control,” he said.
SM Prime earlier announced that the mall would open on November 27, but later said the schedule was reset. The mall was opened on December 8.
He said marshals were assigned to enforce physical distancing.
“Reports were given to me na nakapila naman ang mga tao sa labas and also may grid so kahit na may pila sa labas very observant naman ang mga tao sa safety protocol definitely maraming tao pero we still ask them, we have marshals asking them po to follow the social distancing,” he added. (Third Anne Peralta - Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)