MANILA, Philippines — The management of Fisher Mall in Quezon City said it will adjust its mall hours in response to the imposition of ‘public safety hours’ in the city.
Starting March 16, Monday, the mall will open at 9 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.
“This is in response to protect the public from COVID-19 virus and to give allowance to our employees, tenants, and their staff to go home before curfew,” the mall’s management said in a statement.
The adjustment of the mall hours came after Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte issued Executive Order No. 20 which contains the imposition of “public safety hours” across Quezon City from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. starting Monday, March 16.
During this timeframe, all persons within Quezon City are prohibited “to roam around, loiter, wander, stay or meander in all public places, whether singly or in groups.”
Among those considered as “public places” include, but are not limited to, “streets, highway, sidewalks, parking lots, vacant lots, and the common areas in and about churches, apartment, buildings, office buildings, hospitals, schools, malls or shopping centers, commercial establishments and places of entertainment such as movie theaters and similar places or establishments.”
“Those exempted from the public safety hours are those going to work or returning home from the same place of employment activity,” Belmonte said in a statement.
“Those in immediate need of medical attention or emergency medicines and health workers and personnel in the actual performance of their duties are not covered by the ban,” the mayor added.
Government officials and employees performing essential or emergency official functions and those attending and experiencing emergency situations are also not covered by the order.
The imposition of the ‘public safety hours’ in the city is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s placement of Metro Manila under community quarantine as means to avoid the spread of COVID-19.