By Jonathan Hicap
The Muntinlupa City government’s rules on physical distancing for market-goers have earned praise.
Muntinlupa residents sit on chairs as they wait for their turn to go inside the South Gold market in Bgy. Poblacion (Photo courtesy of Muntinlupa PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
During a televised press briefing today, presidential spokesperson, Secretary Harry Roque Jr., cited Muntinlupa’s measures as one of the “best practices” when it comes to physical distancing.
“Makikita po natin kung paano sila nagso-social distancing sa mga talipapa at pati po sa palengke. Napakaayos po ng social distancing diyan sa Muntinlupa (We can see how they practice social distancing in the flea markets, as well as the public markets. They're very orderly in Muntinlupa),” he said.
The city government implemented a market schedule for residents in different barangays. All public markets now operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily except Mondays when these are closed for disinfection.
Residents of Barangays Tunasan, Poblacion, Putatan, and Bayanan can go to public markets on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays while those from Alabang, Ayala Alabang, Cupang, Buli, and Sucat can enter on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. All are required to show their quarantine passes and face masks before they are allowed to enter.
A queuing system has been imposed in which those who are waiting need to fall in line with a distance of at least one meter from one another.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi thanked Malacanang for recognizing Muntinlupa’s efforts to strictly implement the enhanced community quarantine to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The physical distancing rule in public markets is one of the measures implemented since March. A 24-hour curfew is in place, anti-hoarding ordinance, closure of malls and other non-essential establishments, ban in the sale, delivery and consumption of liquor and other alcoholic drinks, and ban on spitting and disposal of personal protective equipment in public places.
As of April 19, there are 117 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Muntinlupa, including 14 recovered cases and 17 deaths.