BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia have recommended temporary closure of all malls in this city, but with exception to those providing essential services, in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Leonardia on Wednesday issued an Executive Advisory No.1 enjoining all mall owners to consider “as soon as possible” to voluntarily close (fully or partially) their establishments until the health threat is averted.
“Mall here can voluntarily reduce the number of days that the establishments will be open for business,” Leonardia said
Exempted from closure, according to the mayor, are drugstores; supermarkets; medical clinics and laboratories; government offices; bakeries; banks; and convenience stores which should continue operations as they are providing essential services.
“They can continue to operate but with a skeletal staff, and preferably manned by those residents of this city so that those staff who reside outside this city shall no longer need to come in here for stricter quarantine measures,” Leonardia explained, saying the clear and present danger in the health and life of the people posed by COVID-19 cannot be overemphasized.
SM City Bacolod has announced that its mall operations will temporarily stop starting Thursday until further notice, but its supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, hardware, and select restaurants will remain open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Robinsons Place Bacolod will also be closed temporarily on Friday, but its establishments that offer basic necessities similar to those stated in Leonardia’s order would remain open./PN
