THE City Government of Bacolod is imposing stricter minimum health protocols at the three major public markets in light of the alarming increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Bacolod.
The stricter implementation started Friday, April 9, 2021, at the Central Market and Burgos Market, and Saturday, April 10, at the Libertad Market.
Prior to this, Executive Assistant Ernesto Pineda and Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO)-City Operations Management Unit Chief Lieutenant Colonel Lester Leada conducted meetings with the market vendors — two separate meetings on April 8 with Burgos and Central market vendors, and another on April 9 with Libertad market vendors.
Pineda said these meetings were held to ensure the commitment of the market vendors to help the City in the fight against Covid-19.
The meetings included an orientation on “market mechanisms” aimed at controlling and containing the surge of Covid-19 cases in marketplaces and their adjacent areas.
A briefer on the role and action plan of Task Force Market Disiplina was also presented by Leada.
Task Force Market Disiplina is composed of the BCPO, the Socio-Economic Enterprise Units in the three major markets, the City Legal Office-Enforcement Team, market supervisors, and the Community Information Service Support Group headed by Joseph Nazareno.
"We have this task force to come up with initiatives to counter the spread of the virus. The PNP will provide the necessary police assistance that is needed. We will augment personnel to ensure that our task force will be respected by customers in our markets,” said Leada.
Some task force personnel will be deployed at the major markets to scan and inspect BaCTrac IDs of customers and make sure that social distancing and wearing of face masks and face shields are observed.
Another group will be assigned in and out the market areas to remind the public of the minimum health protocols.
Moreover, an enforcement team – composed of BCPO and City Legal Office - Enforcement Team personnel – will be conducting a daily “recorida” (tour and record) around the market areas. Violators may be issued citation tickets, said Leada.
The Force Multipliers CIS-SG, a volunteer group under the City Mayor’s Office -Sectoral Concerns, will be providing additional manpower to augment the enforcement team.
“It (strict enforcement of health protocols) is really okay with us since the Covid-19 cases are increasing. I met with my group and we all agreed to wear face masks and face shields,” said Burgos Vendors’ Association head Lucelyn Dela Paz.
Aside from Dela Paz, presidents of three other associations at Burgos Market also expressed their willingness to cooperate, according to Burgos Market Supervisor Michelle Malubay.
“Since we now have a task force, we are assured that they will follow the minimum health protocols,” said Malubay.
Present during the meeting with Central Market vendors were members of the Community Information Service Support Group headed by Joseph Nazareno; Libertad Market Supervisor Jonah Abao, and the City Legal Office-Enforcement Team represented by MSg Ben Tajonera and Dante Medecielo.
Joining the meeting with Burgos Market vendors, meanwhile, were City Legal Office-Enforcement Team headed by SMS Emmanuel Alonsagay and assistant SSg Jacob Israel Gustilo, Burgos Market supervisor Michelle Malubay, and members of the Community Information Service Support Group.
At the meeting with Libertad Market vendors, the attendees included Libertad Market supervisor Jonah Abao, Amelia Mercedes Vendors Association president Romer Real, City Legal Office-Enforcement Team headed by SSg Mark Anthony Pedriaña, BCPO-Station 6 commander Major Leo Estopa, and members of Community Information Service Support Group. (PR)