Manila deploys 400 COVID-19 safety marshals

FINAL BRIEFING Some 400 COVID-19 safety marshals receive instructions from City Hall officials before their deployment on Tuesday.—MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — As Metro Manila reverted to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), the Manila City government deployed 400 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) safety marshals to help police and barangay officials enforce public health standards.

The COVID-19 safety marshals — deputized civilian personnel of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau — would be in charge of calling out people who fail to follow quarantine protocols, including the wearing of face masks and maintaining physical distancing.

However, the new marshals were instructed before their deployment on Tuesday to observe maximum tolerance when dealing with violators.

“We will help our uniformed personnel in the [Philippine National Police] and the [Manila Police District]. We will augment [the marshals] … to keep peace and order in the city,” Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said.

Manila will be enforcing an odd/even scheme for quarantine pass holders until the end of the MECQ period on Aug. 18.

Odd/even scheme

Those whose quarantine passes end in odd numbers are allowed to go out of their houses and run essential errands between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. For those with quarantine passes that end in even numbers, they can leave their residences from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and between 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Those working in private companies should bring office-issued identification cards to facilitate their travel.

Domagoso, meanwhile, clarified that drivers of tricycles, e-tricycles and pedicabs could keep on plying their routes during MECQ as long as they carry only one passenger who, like them, should also be wearing a face mask.