CH launches mobile markets

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City government yesterday launched 18 mobile markets that will go around the city during the one month enhanced community quarantine period to lessen the people in the public markets and to ensure social distancing.

Mayor Edgardo Labella said these mobile markets will go to the different barangays to cater to the food needs of the residents.

“These eighteen mobile markets, they will go to the different the barangays, hinaot unta makaminos gyud ni sa pagpaari sa mga tao sa merkado. Kompleto na sila naa nay gatas, vegetables, karne ug bugas” said Labella.

Labella, quoting the Department of Health, has also advised the public to avoid eating raw food.

Jonil Matuguina, city market administrator, said the mobile markets will be at the open space in San Antonio Village starting at 1 PM today.

“Makig-alayon ta sa covid task force, silay muhatag og instruction karon Apas ato i-adto kay pigado naman sa oras, so we will be having one barangay sa for now,” said Matuguina.

Matuguina said he spoke to some barangays such as Pamutan, Barrio Luz, Tisa, Cogon, and Pardo as they also wanted the mobile markets to visit their communities.

He said they still have to arrange the schedule and inform the residents to make sure that by the time the mobile markets will visit, the residents will be allowed to leave their homes.

The mobile markets will be set up in one area with the essential goods already re-packed from a kilo to 1/4 to have a faster transaction. He said that this will be in coordination with the barangays to be able to implement strict social distancing since they will try to serve the residents by batch.

At least 30 have already expressed interest to join the mobile markets but the city has limited the participants to 18 at the moment.

“Naa na sa 30 pero ato sa gi-limit kay di ta ganahan mu-apil ang mga negosyante og vendors og masayang lang ilang mga baligya nga di mahurot,” said Matuguina.

Matuguina assured that the prices are comparable to that of Carbon Market and Pasil.

“Presyong Carbon, presyong Pasil,” he said.

There are also chairs prepared for the customers which will be arranged following the social distancing protocol.  FPL (FREEMAN)