Junk shops may operate under MECQ

Malacañang said junk shops may also reopen under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) as long as physical distancing is observed in these places.

Presidential spokesman Harry

Roque made the statement on the first day of the implementation of the MECQ in Metro Manila and seven other transitioning high-risk areas in the country.

In an interview over Super Radyo DZBB, Roque said that while junk shops were not specifically mentioned

in the latest memorandum issued by the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases or its omnibus guidelines, he said junk shops may operate since garbage collection is allowed as well.

“Wala pong specific mention pero naniniwala po ako na basta po ma-observe ang social distancing eh pupwede naman po (It was not specifically

mentioned but I think they can operate as long as they observe physical distancing),” he said.

“Dahil ang pangongolekta naman po ng basura ay patuloy even under ECQ, siguro po yung paghihiwalay ng segregation ay pwede po ‘yan dahil ‘yan naman po ang mga nangyayari sa junk shops natin (Since garbage collection is allowed even under ECQ, I think segregation is allowed as well. That’s what’s happening in our junk shops anyway),” he added.

On Friday, Roque said that taho,

balut, kwek-kwek, and other street food vendors, despite not being specifically mentioned in IATF’s memorandum, can go out and start selling their products as long as they observe quarantine protocols, particularly physical distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“If exercising outdoors is allowed, I think street food vendors are allowed as long as they will not crowd there,” he said in Pilipino in an interview with GMA-7.