Bars, malls told: Revisit health, safety protocols

CEBU, Philippines — Restobar and mall operators are urged to revisit their respective health and safety protocols due to the expected influx of people coming to the city to celebrate the holidays and the upcoming Sinulog.

Councilor Joel Garganera, deputy chief implementer of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), said he, together with the police and the city disaster office, will meet with the restobar and mall operators to ensure that all the necessary precautions are in place.

“We are gathering kaning bar, restos, malls dili lang sa health protocols, but kauban pud nato atong kauban sa kapulisan ug quick response team,” Garganera said.

Garganera said they will appeal to these establishments to “revisit safety protocols”. The councilor is concern about possible man-made disasters like the recent stampede in South Korea and the fire at Ozone Disco in Manila long time ago.

He said that entrance and exit doors should be checked properly for easy way out in case of emergencies.

“Kung sobra ka huot…not only for health but safety…kung naay katalagman, man-made or natural, naa gyud ng state of panic,” Garganera explained.

Together with the City fire department and disaster teams, Garganera reminded the said establishments to re-check their electrical connections.

“Aron magmalampuson sad ang atong pagselebrar…Hopefully they will be religious in the compliance kay it is also for the benefit nato tanan,” Garganera said.

Garganera also reminded everyone that we are still in the pandemic and that the COVID-19 virus is still very much around.

“Pandemic is still very much around, but then again its different na because majority of us are now vaccinated, naa na tay hinagiban batok niini…but just the same, kani mindful gihapon ta, susceptible sad kaning mga tiguwang, naay gimo…be mindful pud sa mga lugar na sudlan…piliaa lang ang ventilated, open spaces,” Garganera said.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) deputy chief for operations Police Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Parilla reminded business establishments to be vigilant against thieves.

“In malls pinaka-common is theft, kaning salisi,” said Parilla.

Parilla is hoping that mall owners will give their full cooperation to the police, especially on giving access to CCTV footages during investigation of possible crime incidents.

“We cannot easily access CCTV cameras,” Parilla lamented.

Parilla said they are looking at putting up a help desk in malls to assist mallgoers who may have problems that require police attention. — FPL (FREEMAN)