Cebu City to arrest vendors, customers without masks at markets

CEBU, Philippines —  Starting today, January 25, 2021, vendors and customers at markets being managed by the Cebu City government will be arrested if they fail to wear masks.

This decision is upon the instruction of Mayor Edgardo Labella to strengthen quarantine protocols yet again following the huge spike of new COVID-19 cases in the city, said Market Operations Division chief Irvin Cabales.

“Ang tanan nga musulod sa mga merkado nga controlled sa city nga dili mag-mask, ato na dakpon, apil ang mga vendors sab ato na gipahimangnuan nga mas gipahugtan nato ang pgsunod sa basic health protocols,” he told The Freeman on Sunday, January 24.

The markets managed by the city include the Carbon Market (Units 1, 2, 3, Barracks Warwick, and Freedom Park), Pasil Fish Market, T. Padilla Market, Ramos Market, Pardo Market, and 'bagsakan' at the South Road Properties.

Cabales said those who will be arrested will be turned over to the city's COVID action team based at the gym in Barangay Tejero for penalty.

Authorities said the recent spike of COVID-19 cases in Cebu City are a result of infections from gatherings and convergence of people during the holiday season.

Photos captured and shared by The Freeman showed a full-packed Carbon Market on New Year’s Eve.

Cebu City logged 97 new cases on Saturday, January 23, bringing the city’s total active cases to 845. — JMO (FREEMAN)