Q passes no longer required at Mandaue public market

CEBU, Philippines —  Quarantine passes and other documentary certificates showing one’s residence will no longer be required upon entry to the public market in Mandaue City.

All concessionaires, sellers, stall owners and tenants of night market tents within the market are also required to conduct regular disinfection after their operating hours.

These were among the new guidelines contained under Mayor Jonas Cortes’ Executive Order No. 18, which was issued yesterday and takes effect immediately.

EO 18, in a way, amends EO 1, series of 2021, which previously amended EO 71, series of 2020, on the removal or barricades, and EO 83-A, series of 2020, on the schedule of operations of the Mandaue City Public Market.

To recall, Cortes stated in EO 1 that there was a need to balance the interests of the market goers, vendors and business establishments in the city public market. The reason for this, he said, is to maintain the health and safety and preserve the comfort and convenience of residents.

Hence, on Jan. 15 this year, the barricades installed along P. Gomez St., Zamora St. and Ceniza St. were removed in accordance with EO 1.

In addition, EO 1 also imposed a new set of schedules for public market days for the city residents, extending the market days for each barangay from the previous two and a half days to four days.

This time, under EO 18, the previously implemented operation schedules that the barangays follow, and all forms of gates, fences, enclosed access points, or other forms of barricades are to be removed.

As part of the new regulations, marshals shall be stationed at the entrances of the public market to monitor people entering and leaving the market and to make sure the proper health protocols are being followed and complied with.

These marshals, EO 18 states, will also make sure that any person below the age of 15, those who are over the age of 65, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women shall not be allowed entry and be required to stay at their own residences. – Jean Aldemer S. Salgados, JMD (FREEMAN)