Task force to study calls to keep supermarkets open till midnight

In a Laging Handa public briefing, Lopez echoed Nograles’ remark, stressing the importance of extending store hours to prevent crowding. (Shutterstock photo)

MANILA – Amid public clamor to keep supermarkets open until midnight, a Palace official said this proposal will be taken up during the next Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) meeting.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the task force will be discussing the proposal to extend store hours of supermarkets to make it easier for consumers to observe social distancing when buying food during the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

“Pag-uusapan namin ito (We will discuss this) especially with the Secretary ng Department of Trade and Industry, si Secretary Mon Lopez,” he said in a virtual presser on Wednesday.

In a Laging Handa public briefing, Lopez echoed Nograles’ remark, stressing the importance of extending store hours to prevent crowding.

“‘Yun ho ang ating recommendation dahil pag iniklian ang store hours, nagkukumpol ang mga tao. Konti na lang yung window hours nila para mamili (That is our recommendation because if you shorten store hours, people will crowd. There will be fewer window hours to shop),” he said.

Supermarkets are among the establishments allowed to operate during the enhanced community quarantine which will be in place in Luzon until April 12.

Some supermarkets have adjusted their store hours during the enhanced community quarantine period in Luzon.

Below is a list of supermarkets and links to their adjusted store hours:

Landers Superstores https://www.facebook.com/LandersPH/photos/a.606895722806813/1517846145045095/?type=3&theater

Metro Supermarket https://www.facebook.com/notes/the-metro-stores/adjusted-store-hours-for-metro-supermarkets-in-luzon/10158223518639777/

Puregold https://www.facebook.com/notes/puregold/puregold-temporary-store-hours/10157629075051311/?__tn__=HH-R&fbclid=IwAR1UjiBOIV_t57vy6oD20rhaAtfe2OFNmQ0Flu5JvjDVHjkJqxbFtBnaphU

Robinsons Supermarket: https://www.facebook.com/notes/robinsons-supermarket/adjusted-store-hours/10156940532751434/?fref=mentions&__tn__=K-R

SM Markets: https://www.facebook.com/notes/sm-markets/adjusted-store-hours/1308270072716172/?fref=mentions&__xts__[0]=68.ARBAOLcntYUAaO6CqtLc6GDdD6fQXNA_wbBDoj9kMXwTMvNmmXQbm2dSxbferMHt0Cvvi4qsL8b26JAEKRP3ogoiMLEy4uRx_2E7vjWN7Fgi_rFAgxQYy8Sy5ctXuOgC5eIzba_rSH0ylTnXxLj4HfZccRoDNsNkGMdAQZ4q5VfyY86Bt_xbIvtXqhuTSc8DwV3yHfbQQExMAKzrxHyZlW63R29llLw3edZd5J64jhXBDTbC2ku1vAoROJZcQGUJNy7-lsYe7-5n-QDjWsIhCkj1moFEWSi3l1To4RwH5cHl2prh8Nslk4e6JDdJCUjncAnJGPFFXjVnzUhupI4&__tn__=KH-R

S&R https://www.facebook.com/snrmembershipshopping/photos/a.277932842283694/2990953764314908/?type=3&theater

Meanwhile, Landers, MetroMart, Lazmart, among others, offer online grocery services and deliver these at one’s doorstep.

Meanwhile, some local governments have also launched their own markets-on-wheels after taking inspiration from Pasig City’s Mobile Palengke while mass public transportation ban is in place.

The initiative also provides drivers and vendors with a continuous source of income during the quarantine.

Health authorities urged to observe “social distancing” by requiring a spacing of at least one meter in diameter between people.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has shifted to recommending “physical distancing” stressing the need to remain connected.

“We’re changing to say physical distance and that’s on purpose because we want people to still remain connected. Technology right now has advanced so greatly that we can keep connected in many ways without actually physically being in the same room or physically being in the same space with people,” WHO epidemiologist Dr. Maria Kerkhove said in a press briefing.

As of Tuesday, the number of Covid-19 cases in the Philippines soared to 2,084 with 88 deaths as the country entered the third week of its Luzon-wide quarantine in an effort to contain the virus.