Galvez reacts to call to reopen malls
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. gave thumbs down to the call to reopen malls while the enhanced community quarantine is still being implemented.
When the ECQ was implemented, malls started to close except for supermarkets and essential stores. However, Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion suggested the gradual reopening of the malls with priorities for stores with high consumer demand, based on the report from GMA News Online.
Additionally, Concepcion recommended that public transport, construction, and all manufacturing activities should be allowed to resume operations.
In line with this, chief implementer of the government’s COVID-19 response Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. gave his reaction through the teleradyo program on Dobol B sa News TV.
“Sa personal opinion ko, kapag binuksan agad natin ang mga mall posibleng magkaroon ng second wave ng COVID-19,” Galvez said.
The secretary also said, “Kapag binuksan natin ang lahat ng negosyo maaaring malagay sa [alanganin] ang kalusugan ng mamayan.” Galvez also said that members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases are right when they say that going back to the normal routine should not be rushed.
If the national government will push through with the ‘selective quarantine’ from the Luzon-wide community quarantine, Galvez said that the “new normal” can be observed in areas where the quarantine is already lifted.
“New normal is social distancing, wearing of masks, protecting elders… and big congregations wala na muna ‘yan. ‘Yung mga i-o-open natin na mga negosyo kailangan responsable sa kanilang mga employee at kanilang mga buyer,” Galvez said.
He added that the private sectors should also adjust in this situation and not just the government alone, based on the report.
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