By Chito Chavez Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Wednesday ordered concerned authorities to strictly enforce the policies embodied in the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the city’s private and public markets to prevent the spread of the dreaded novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). (MANILA BULLETIN) These precautionary measures include, but are not limited to, social distancing and sanitation procedures. Belmonte reminded the private market management and their stall owners of their responsibility to maintain the volume of market goers and order inside the market at any given time to ensure that proper social distancing is observed. “We understand that our residents still need to go out and buy their essentials such as food. That’s why we make sure to keep them safe by enforcing the protocols of social distancing and the wearing of face masks,” said Belmonte. Assistant City Administrator for Operations Alberto Kimpo noted that all the eight city-owned markets and 73 privately-owned markets and talipapas (flea markets) were instructed to compute their vacant space or walkway-per-individual ratio with the ratio of at least one square meter per person being observed. “Kung ang walkway nila ay may sukat na 20 square meters, dapat ang papapasukin lang sa palengke ay dalawampung katao. Inaatasan din natin ang market owners na maging responsable sa pagpapatupad ng kaayusan ng pila papasok sa kanilang palengke (If the market walkways measure 20 square meters then only 20 persons should enter the premises. We also ordered the market owners to be responsible in enforcing order in th liness leading to the entrances of their markets),” explained Kimpo. No mass entry Belmonte said that market authorities have to implement single entry and exit points in every market to prevent mass entry. Retired Police Colonel Procorpio Lipana, the City's Market Development and Administration Department (MDAD) Head for Operations added that sinks, clean water, and alcohol must be made available and placed near the entrances and exits of the markets. “Handwashing areas should be accessible to the public, even inside our markets. We ultimately want to stop this virus from spreading,” said Lipana, adding that all vendors are required to wear face masks and gloves. Likewise, Lipana said that marketgoers shall be asked to present their quarantine passes and wear facemasks at all times. Lipana asked market authorities to conduct regular inspections and will provide facemasks to those who will be seen not wearing one. Kimpo noted that CCTV monitors will be installed in the strategic areas of the markets to ensure that all ECQ policies are followed. Market hours Lipana said all markets will be open for business from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. He also recommended the barangays to coordinate with the nearby markets and assign a specific day and/or time of the week where their constituents can buy essential goods from the said markets. Waived rental fees Lipana emphasized that stalls selling non-essential goods which closed down due to COVID-19 should not be required to pay rent. Non-essential goods include retail clothes, ukay-ukay, and cellphone accessories, among others. Alternative markets The Quezon City government has continued to provide residents with alternative sources of goods to prevent overcrowding in markets. Initiated by the QC Small Business and Cooperatives Development Promotions Office, the Fresh Market on Wheels travels to different barangays to sell fresh produce. Similarly, the Kadiwa Mobile Markets in partnership with the Department of Agriculture will also make regular rounds in various parts of the city, bringing fruits, vegetables, and other goods straight to homes and communities. Meanwhile, all supermarkets and groceries will be asked to extend operating hours from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily to accommodate more shoppers for the purpose of lessening crowds in local markets.