“Hindi namin kayo ipinapasara pero sana gampanan ninyo ang mga responsibilidad ninyo.”
This was Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago’s plea during his meeting with the mall and supermarket executives and managers on August 24, underscoring the importance of their roles in suppressing COVID-19 cases in the city.
“Importante ang inyong partisipasyon sa labang ito. Yes, we have to save the economy, but we also have to save lives. Utak at puso ang kailangan. Alam ko kayo ay executives and managers, kaya kayo nariyan dahil marurunong kayo pero dagdagan natin ng puso,” he said.
The local chief executive had ordered mall and supermarket establishments to strictly impose health protocols in their premises following the sudden increase in Covid-19 fatality rate in the city.
On August 21, the City Health Office had reported five deaths due to the coronavirus disease
“Sabay-sabay sa isang araw. Hindi kami nakatulog ni IC, Santiago said referring to Dr. Renely P. Tungol, City Health Officer and Emergency Operations Center Incident Commander. That is why pinatawag namin kayo para ayusin natin ang infection control policies at higpitan pa ang pagpapatupad ng mga alituntunin.”
Tungol also plead for patience and understanding from the business sector.
“Please bear with us kung pabago-bago man ang ating polisiya, pero ito po ay dahil we are data-driven. Every now and then, we have to change policies base sa realidad at sinasabi ng datos natin dito sa City of San Fernando,” Tungol said.
After the sudden increase in fatality rate, the CHO decided to revisit and strengthen its protocols and have uniform health standards implemented in every establishment.
The Peace and Order group, headed by the City of San Fernando Police, will continue its inspection together with the Joint Inspection Team to ensure the stern implementation of quarantine guidelines inside business establishments.
Establishments are expected to implement the basic minimum health standards such as the use of face mask and face shield; and, refusal to allow persons outside residence (APOR) and those without quarantine passes inside their establishments.
Non-compliance to the said guidelines and protocols will be a ground for closure of the establishment according to Joseph Garcia, chief of Business Permit and License Division.
Santiago thanked the business sector for supporting the programs and strategies of the local government thru his leadership and promised to prioritize medical and social services without undermining the business sector to reinvigorate the city’s economy.