City of San Fernando Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago convened on Friday mall managers, business establishment owners, event place owners, and restaurant owners of this city to seek their support anew in implementing strict health protocols in their premises.
“Gusto natin nakabukas tayo araw-araw but we have to find ways to balance our economy and response against Covid-19. Muling tumataas yung cases hindi lang sa San Fernando but in the whole country so there is really a need to heighten our health response,” Santiago remarked.
The Local Chief Executive advised business establishments to cooperate with the local and provincial government which released a new executive order for the strict implementation of quarantine guidelines.
“Help us. Help the City manage the situation by being on top with us. Ayaw nating bumalik sa dati. Ayaw nating mag lockdown ulit kasi it will immobilize us again. Kaya magsama-sama tayo at magtulungan sa di pa rin natatapos na labang ito,” the mayor said.
Dr. Carlos Mercado, City Health Officer-in-charge and one of the Incident Commanders of the Unified Command System, reiterated the existing quarantine guidelines of the City and the common violations of some establishments.
“Age restrictions. Sa loob ng establishments mahigpit pa rin po nating ipinagbabawal ang mga bata at matatanda. Sa inspections namin, ito po ang naging common violations ng mga establishments. Huwag po kayong matatakot o mapapagod mag-remind sa mga customers ninyo na isuot ang kanilang face mask at face shield. Kung tumanggi sila, pwede ninyong palabasin. Kayo po dapat ang masusunod sa loob ng establisyemento ninyo,” Mercado explained.
For the safe conduct of public events, all mass gatherings will also need to pass through the Incident Management Team for clearance.
“We still discourage illegitimate mass gatherings. All mass gatherings dapat mag-secure muna po sila ng permit o clearance from the IMT [Incident Management Team]. Ito ay para ma-regulate po nang maayos at ligtas ang mga pagtitipon and walang ma-breach na protocols especially the imposition of 50 percent capacity,” Mercado said.
The City Health Officer said in the past few days, they have recorded most of the Covid-19 infections from unregulated and illegitimate mass gatherings.
Santiago and Mercado were joined by Raymond Del Rosario, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer and one of the Incident Commanders of the Unified Command System; Ching Pangilinan, City Tourism Officer; Joseph Garcia, Business License and Permit Division Officer; and, Elenita Ordonio, Department of Trade and Industry Pampanga Provincial Director.