LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipal government recently issued the new rules governing the operation of commercial establishments, groceries, mini-marts, satellite markets, fruit and vegetable stands in the municipality in the light of the further extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) until May 15, 2020.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda issued Executive Order No. 27, series of 2020, stating among others, that all establishments and convenient stores providing basic necessities and satellite markets may be allowed to operate from 8 am to 5 pm from Mondays to Saturdays.
As to groceries, mini-marts, fruit and vegetable stands, he said these establishments can operate from 9 am to 1 pm only from Sundays to Saturdays and that the same may open from 8 am to 5 pm during the prescribed market day of the barangay they are situated.
Further, groceries, mini-marts, fruit and vegetable stands around the public market may operate from 8 am to 5 pm from Mondays to Saturdays only.
The municipal chief executive disclosed that farm supplies may open from 8 am to 5 pm from Mondays to Saturdays.
On the other hand, Valley Bread and its outlets may open from 8 am to 5 pm from Mondays to Saturdays.
Mayor Salda warned that violators of the aforesaid order may cause the immediate revocation of their business permit issued by the municipal government.
He said the municipal government needs to enforce appropriate strategies and stricter measures to guide the conduct of operations in the different areas which have been identified as the places where the potential for infection is high.
As of April 26, 2020, La Trinidad recorded six confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the municipality with three recoveries while the others are now in stable condition.
Upon the recommendation of the national inter-agency task force on the management of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, President Rodrigo R. Duterte included Benguet of which La Trinidad is the capital town as a high-risk province for the contagion of COVID-19.
In view of the continuing and alarming threat, and to contain its further spread in the community, the municipal government issued several executive orders prescribing guidelines, window periods and all other issuances pursuant to earlier national directives to maintain order and stability in the municipality.
Salda appealed to the residents in the municipality to strictly comply with the prescribed market day of their barangays and for commercial establishments to operate on the provided time and days because it will help in preventing the further spread of the deadly virus in the municipality.
La Trinidad accounted for all the six confirmed COVID cases in the province over the past several weeks and that the close contacts of the said patients have already been reached and were mandated to undergo the required quarantine and isolation.
By Hent