Mayor: ‘Don’t sacrifice the lives of Kabalens’

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - “Tuloy ang operations but please do not sacrifice health protocols, do not sacri fice the lives of our cabalen.”

This was how Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago urged mall and supermarket managers who responded to the call for a coordination meeting of Pampanga Provincial Police Office (PPO) Director Colonel

Jean Fajardo on Saturday, May 23.

The meeting was conducted to discuss the current challenges for malls and supermarkets in the City of San Fernando and also to reiterate the guidelines issued by the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) for the implementation of health protocols inside their establishments.

“Ayaw naming ipasara ang mga mall because you are part of the essential and permitt ed establishments. Natutulungan din ninyo ang mga cabalen natin dahil nakakabalik-trabaho na sila. But, of course, we also want their health safety kaya kailangang huwag nating icompromise ‘yon,” the mayor sai d.

Meanwhile, Fajardo gave her recommendations to the establishments following their inspection last week.

“Isa sa

mga rekomendasyon natin sa kanila ay ang paglalagay ng mga markers o iyong tinatawag nating ‘square of life’para po ang ating mga mamimili ‘di na mag-iisip kung saan sila tatayo at kung gaano ba kalayo ang dapat nilang i-impose sa mga sarili habang naghihintay,” she said.

The officer also ordered the malls to be strict in implementing their infection control policy.

“Ni-require din natin na magkaroon ng separate bin para sa mga naisukat na mga damit at hindi ibabalik yun hangga’t hindi nasa-sanitize. Dapat din maglagay sila ng plastic separator para hindi magkaroon ng close contact sa pagitan ng consumers at employees,” Fajardo added.

The officer further reminded the malls and establishments that part of the DTI guidelines is for them to provide company shuttles for their employees who are already reporting to work.

“Isa sa mga guidelines ng national government natin, ang ating mga permitted companies should provide company shuttles para sa kanilang mga manggagawa. Kaya ‘yong inilaan ng capitol at city government na mga ‘libreng sakay’ services ay parang ayuda o additional na service lamang para matugunan ang mas malaking bilang ng mga manggagawa.”