Mayor Sara urges biz firms to put measures vs Covid under MGCQ

As more business establishments and offices are opening under the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has urged establishment owners to exercise self-regulation to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Mayor Sara reminded business establishment owners that wearing of face masks, social distancing, regular handwashing, and disinfection of their premises are practiced for their protection under the new normal.

“So ang atoang ginatarget diri karon, tungod sa kadako sa Davao City and we are trying to practice, na kinahanglan ta magpractice with the new normal so mao ni siya ang correct time—ang MGCQ, magpractice tang tanan (Since Davao City is large, we are trying to target and practice the “new normal” so this is the correct time we need to practice under the MGCQ),” she said in a live interview over the Davao City Disaster Radio on Wednesday.

She pointed out that the city government cannot be present at all times to monitor the implementation of the preventive measures 24/7 so it must be upon the establishment to implement the preventive measures.

In any case, Mayor Sara said, the establishment will face consequences if they would not practice the minimum health standards.

“We cannot be there 24 hours a day nga naa mi camera dinha sa sulod sa inyohang offices and establishments. We are also trying to make the offices and the establishments understand nga kung dunay magkasakit dinha sa mga inyohang employees, and inyohang clients and customers, masirado gyud na ang imhoang office and establishment because of quarantine and disinfection (We cannot be there for 24 hours a day to monitor your offices and establishments. We are also trying to make everybody understand that if your employee or client gets sick, your business establishments will be closed for quarantine and disinfection),” she said.

The mayor stressed that the practice of the preventive measures is for the best interest of the establishment and the entire city to bring down the number of Covid cases in the city.

From July 1 to 15, 2020, the National Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) placed Davao City under MGCQ with limited movements for essential purposes.

Under MGCQ, some leisure and entertainment establishments such as karaoke bars are allowed to cater to 25% of the venue’s capacity with strict health protection procedures such as wearing face masks and disinfection to be implemented. 24-hour liquor ban and the curfew will still be in effect. CIO