Niña wants Carbon, Pasil markets closed

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Councilor Prisca Niña Mabatid is asking Mayor Edgardo Labella to temporarily suspend or cease the operations of Carbon Public Market and Pasil Fish Market.

Mabatid said these markets are proven not viable to effectively implement social distancing protocol considering their constricted spaces.

"Not only in a single instance but there are several reports of people queued in banks, pawnshops, groceries and other public places who are not observing proper social distancing measures," said Mabatid.

"Worst, during the observance of Holy Week, people flocked towards Carbon Public Market and other public markets to buy ingredients for Holy Week dishes. They blatantly disregarded practicing social distancing protocols pursuant to the declaration of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the entire Cebu City," she added.

She requested the City Market Authority to immediately look for at least three feasible sites like the South Reclamation Properties, the Cebu City Sports Center or in any bigger area within the city where social distancing can be properly observed and where the stalls of the vendors are properly segregated according to what they sell.

These areas, she said, will serve as temporary relocation sites for the vendors.

The city government has been urging the public to practice proper social distancing as it is one of the effective preventive measures to curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Until such time a total lockdown is being implemented in the entire city, the councilor said, there is an urgent need to strictly enforce social distancing in the public markets and to come up with strategic measures to effectively implement social distancing practices for those who intend to buy goods and other basic commodities in the markets.

She said there must be strict enforcement of the social distancing measure in the temporary relocation sites of Carbon Public Market and Pasil Fish Market.

Mabatid also requested the City Market Authority to come up with guidelines for the schedule of residents/buyers of the 80 barangays in the temporary relocation sites of public markets.

“This is to prevent convergence of buying customers,” she said.

Labella earlier issued an executive order imposing a schedule for the entry of shoppers in the Carbon Public Market Complex within the ECQ period.

The schedule of admission of shoppers in the market will be based on the first letter of their family name.

This will be from Tuesdays to Sundays as Mondays will be dedicated for cleansing and disinfecting activities.

The Carbon Public Market Complex will be open to shoppers from 6:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. only. During this period, no vehicles are allowed to enter the complex.  KQD (FREEMAN)