MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker on Tuesday called on local government units (LGUs) to deploy additional “mobile palengke” in communities while the strict quarantine is still in effect due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Ang Probinsyano Party-list Rep. Alfred Delos Santos said those movable markets help support vendors since it ensures livelihood for them as well as prevent overcrowding in public markets during the quarantine period.
“Nakikiusap po tayo sa mga LGUs na kung maaari ay dagdagan pa natin iyong mga mobile palengke na umiikot sa ating mga komunidad para mas maraming mga nasa kabahayan ang makapamili at maserbisyuhan sa halip na makipagsiksikan pala sila sa mga public market,” Delos Santos said in a statement.
(We are asking our local government units to deploy additional roving markets in communities so that more people can buy while in their homes instead of going to the crowded public market.)
“Sa totoo lang po, mahirap po ang physical distancing kapag maraming tao sa palengke. Sa panahon ng extension ng ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) ay higit po na dapat tayong mag-ingat upang huwag nang madagdagan ang bilang ng mga nagkakasakit,” he added.
(In truth, physical distancing is difficult when there are many people in the public market. With the extension of the ECQ, we should be more careful so that we would not add up to the number of sick people.)
Delos Santos, however, said measures such as wearing face masks and social distancing should remain in place to ascertain that government protocols will still be followed in the deployment of the “mobile palengke.”
“Sana dagdagan pa ng mga LGUs ‘yung mga accredited vendors o yung mga pinapayagan nilang magtinda sa pamamagitan ng mobile palengke habang isinasaalang-alang din ang kalinisan at kaligtasan ng mga magtitinda at ng mga mamimili,” Delos Santos said.
(I hope LGUs can add more accredited vendors or those they allow to sell through the roving markets while ensuring the cleanliness and safety of the vendor and the consumer.)
“It’s like hitting two birds with one stone. Nasa doorstep na ang serbisyo para ng mga mamamayan at sa kabilang banda naman ay natutulungan pa natin ang iba na magkaroon ng pagkakakitaan. Maganda na mayroong economic activities sa community level,” the lawmaker added.
(It’s like hitting two birds with one stone. Service for our constituents is at their doorstep while we help vendors earn money. It’s good to have economic activities at the community level.)
President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Luzon under enhanced community quarantine as part of the government’s effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Under the enhanced community quarantine, “strict home quarantine shall be implemented in all households; transportation shall be suspended; provision for food and essential services shall be regulated; and heightened presence of uniformed personnel to enforce quarantine procedures will be implemented.”