JOINT Task Force COVID Shield commander, Lieutenant General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar yesterday urged managers of malls and other business establishments in Metro Manila and other urban parts of the country to coordinate the holding of so-called Christmas Big Sale and other promotional events with the local police so they can be given assistance in the enforcement of minimum health safety protocols.
The official said the role of the police would be more on assisting security officers of malls and other business establishments especially that promotional sales and other events tend to attract large number of people even during the pandemic.
“The JTF COVID Shield fully support the efforts of our national government all the efforts that would generate more economic activities. We in the JTF COVID Shield have been adjusting our security and health safety measures to strike a balance between the need to revive our economy and in ensuring the protection of our kababayan,” said Eleazar.
“Even before the pandemic, the local police were actively involved in security planning for big sales and other events. Amid the threat of the coronavirus, the need for cooperation between the business community and the Philippine National Police is even more important,” he added.
Last week, the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) allowed the holding of mall sales and other promotional events of business establishments in order to further spur the economy which has been affected by the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19).
The holding of these activities, according to the IATF-MEID, is subject to the rules and regulations of the Department of Trade and Industry headed by Secretary Ramon Lopez.
Lt. Gen. Eleazar said he had already coordinated with PNP chief, General Camilo Pancratius P. Cascolan the need for local police commanders to ensure that they would always be aware of any activity in their respective areas of responsibility.
Gen. Cascolan earlier ordered police commanders to strengthen police visibility in business districts and other public places in their AORs as more industries were permitted to operate and more people were allowed to go out.
“Security managers of malls and other business establishments have a good history of coordination with the PNP. We continue to maintain this good working relationship both for the security and health safety of our kababayan,” Eleazar said.
