Task force orders more police presence as more firms expected to reopen

August 31, 2020

The Joint Task Force COVID Shield on Monday said they instructed all police commanders to increase visibility in business districts after more business establishments are allowed to operate starting September 1.

Police Lt. General Guillermo Eleazar, JTF commander, said NTF chairman Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana approved to allow more business establishments to operate.

Eleazar said police commanders should anticipate that more people would go out as several business establishments that were closed for a long time due to strict implementation of community quarantine are expected to resume operation on Tuesday.

Based on the NTF on COVID-19 approval as announced by Secretary of Trade and Industry Ramon Lopez during the "Laging Handa" briefing, those which will be allowed to operate were testing and tutorial centers, review centers, gyms and fitness centers. Also allowed to operate were personal grooming and pet grooming.

“The easing of restrictions is for the sake of our economy. It does not mean that we should also lower our guard,” said Eleazar.

“The threat of coronavirus infection is still there so we should always be alert and continue doing our mandate of protecting the public from virus transmission,” he added.

Eleazar reminded local police commanders to coordinate with their respective local government units to come up with an operational guideline for the enforcement of  quarantine rules based on the existing rules and regulations being implemented by LGUs.

Eleazar said owners and store managers of the business establishments that were allowed to operate starting on September 1 must also be reminded to observe the minimum health safety standard protocols for their employees and customers.

He said part of the anti-COVID-19 measures that should be implemented is the strengthening of police visibility in business districts, especially as people would flock in the area to avail of services.

“Local commanders can also tap the barangay officials for the deployment of barangay tanods as force multipliers, or the Public Order and Safety Personnel of cities and municipalities to augment the local police,” he said.

“We should anticipate all the eventualities that may occur and these must be included in the planning and implementation in order to ensure that the quarantine rules are observed,” Eleazar added. Ella Dionisio/DMS