The city government of Antipolo has ordered two private markets to close operation for various violations including the breach of health protocols set by the national government.

The Tri-Star Agora Market and CMMK, both located in Barangay San Roque in this city, have been issued the Closure Order for non-observance of the minimum public health standards and violation of environmental and sanitation regulations.

The city government said the inspection teams found out that the vendors at these two privately-managed wet and dry markets have not been wearing face masks and face shields that prompted the enforcers to close their establishments.

The city government also said that the city legal office is studying what charges to file against the establishments aside from the issuance of closure order.

The city’s sanitation office also discovered that both establishments have defective sewerage treatment plants for several months now resulting in the release of untreated wastewater to the city’s rivers and waterways leading to the Laguna Lake, thus violating the Laguna Lake Development Authority Act of 1966 and Clean Water Act.

Aside from the two markets, the MLQ Market on F. Manalo Street, Maylor’s Building on Gatlabayan Street, and other establishments were also found violating the minimum health standards set by the IATF.

According to city government spokesperson, former Mayor Casimiro “Junjun” Ynares III, around 107 stalls and business establishments have been closed down in the past two days

Over the weekend, 48 vendors and tenants working at the two private markets tested positive for COVID-19 rapid testing which prompted the City Health Office to subject them to the mandatory swab test. One vendor turned out to be positive for coronavirus in the RT PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test.