Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 12) — Soldiers and policemen will now man public markets to strictly enforce social distancing measures, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Sunday.
“Gagawa po tayo ng joint social distancing teams consisting of AFP and PNP personnel na ide-deploy sa public markets to enforce social distancing measures,” Nograles, spokesperson for The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, said in a virtual presser.
[Translation:We will form social distancing teams consisting of AFP and PNP personnel to be deployed in public markets to enforce social distancing measures.]
He also said that they will coordinate with local government units to implement this directive.
The policy comes after reports circulated that people still flocked to the Balintawak public market in Quezon City despite the implementation of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte then ordered to stop retail selling in the Balintawak market. Wholesale selling and drop-off of products will still continue in the area.
The local government will coordinate with affected vendors to sell their products through its “Fresh Market on Wheels” program to different barangays.
