The city government is imposing stricter minimum health protocols at the three major public markets, in the light of the alarming increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Bacolod.
The stricter implementation started Friday at the Central Market and Burgos Market, and on Saturday at the Libertad Market.
Before this, executive assistant Ernesto Pineda and Bacolod City Police Office-City Operations Management Unit chief, Lt. Col. Lester Leada, met with Burgos and Central market vendors on April 8, and with Libertad market vendors the day after.
Pineda said these meetings were held to ensure the commitment of the market vendors to help the City in the fight against Covid-19, a press release from the city said.
The meetings included an orientation on market mechanisms, aimed at controlling and containing the surge of cases in marketplaces and adjacent areas.
A briefer on the role and action plan of Task Force Market Disiplina was also presented by Leada.
‘TF DISIPLINA’
Task Force Market Disiplina is composed of the BCPO, the Socio-Economic Enterprise Units in the three major markets, the City Legal Office-Enforcement Team, market supervisors, and the Community Information Service Support Group, headed by Joseph Nazareno.
“We have this task force to come up with initiatives to counter the spread of the virus. The PNP will provide the necessary police assistance that is needed. We will augment personnel to ensure that our task force will be respected by customers in our markets,” Leada said.
Some task force personnel will be deployed in major markets to scan and inspect BaCTrac IDs of customers and make sure that social distancing and the wearing of face masks and face shields are observed.
Another group will be assigned in and outside the market areas to remind the public of the minimum health protocols.
An enforcement team, composed of BCPO and City Legal Office-Enforcement Team personnel, will conduct a daily “recorida (tour and record)” around the market areas. Violators may be issued citation tickets, Leada said.
FORCE MULTIPLIERS
The Force Multipliers CIS-SG, a volunteer group under the City Mayor’s Office-Sectoral Concerns, will provide additional manpower to augment the enforcement team.
“The strict enforcement of health protocols is really okay with us since the Covid-19 cases are increasing. I met with my group and we all agreed to wear face masks and face shields,” Burgos Vendors’ Association head Lucelyn Dela Paz said.
The presidents of three other associations at Burgos Market also expressed their willingness to cooperate, Burgos Market supervisor Michelle Malubay said.
“Since we now have a task force, we are assured that they will follow the minimum health protocols,” Malubay said.
The meeting with the Central Market vendors was attended by members of the Community Information Service Support Group, headed by Joseph Nazareno, Libertad Market supervisor Jonah Abao, and the City Legal Office-Enforcement Team, represented by MSg Ben Tajonera and Dante Medecielo.
Joining the meeting with Burgos Market vendors were CLO Enforcement Team, headed by SMS Emmanuel Alonsagay and assistant SSg Jacob Israel Gustilo, Malubay, and members of the CISSG.
In the meeting at the Libertad Market, present were market supervisor Jonah Abao, Amelia Mercedes Vendors Association president Romer Real, CLO Enforcement Team headed by SSg Mark Anthony Pedriaña, BCPO-Station 6 commander Maj. Leo Estopa, and members of CISSG.*
