The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has expressed its support for the national government’s move to ban dine-in services in canteens and smoking in workplaces for areas under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ), following the announcement made by Presidential Spokesman Secretary Harry Roque in an effort to further contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said these additional health protocols jointly crafted by the Department of Health, Department of Labor and Employment and Department of Trade and Industry, and duly approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, is a most welcome development and must be strictly followed for everybody’s safety.
“Each and every one of us must do our part in our fight against COVID-19. Adhering to the most basic health protocols is already a big contribution. Let us all cooperate as the pandemic is not over yet,” Lim stressed.
“Each and every one of us must do our part in our fight against COVID-19.”
The traffic chief also cited the MMDA, through its own COVID-19 committee, has formulated and implemented internal guidelines to help combat the spread of COVID-19 among its personnel. It includes the prohibition of eating together of employees and limiting food delivery couriers/riders at the building lobby only, among others.
Moreover, the agency has no smoking area inside its premises.
For her part, Dr. Loida Alzona, Director of the MMDA Health and Environmental Protection Office (HEPO), noted that in collaboration with the local government units (LGUs), the agency’s environmental enforcers are strictly monitoring the selling of cigarettes and other tobacco products within the 100-meter perimeter of schools in Metro Manila.
“Despite the existence of COVID-19 pandemic, we continuously conduct online training.”
“Despite the existence of COVID-19 pandemic, we continuously conduct online training for LGU environmental enforcers as well as members of the Local Tobacco Control Councils (LTCCs) to intensify the implementation of anti-smoking ordinances in their respective areas of jurisdiction,” Alzona said.
Malacañang announced recently that the government has prohibited dine-in operations in canteens, allowing only packed food and deliveries. Further, common smoking areas are banned while individual smoking areas or booths in open spaces are allowed.