15 shops closed due to protocol violations

POLICE and PSO personnel round up a group of minors during a nighttime operation of Oplan Sita in one of the city’s 27 barangays. JBN/ACTO PHOTO

NAGA CITY --- The Health Emergency Response Task Force (HERTF) here ordered the closure of 15 commercial establishments for failure to strictly implement health and safety protocols amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

A joint inspection team composed of personnel from the Philippine National Police, Public Safety Office, the City Treasurer’s Office, and volunteers has recommended the closure of the 15 business shops after series of Oplan “Sita” operations.

The inspection team has inspected a total of 332 commercial establishments, including public offices, and 15 of them were found to have violated minimum health standards particularly physical distancing and wearing of face masks.

Alec Francis Santos, chief of Arts, Culture, and Tourism Office and cluster head of HERTF’s monitoring team, said they also found other violations such as non-payment of business taxes and operating without mayor’s permit.

He said, in the last 10 days, the team recommended the closure of three bars for failure to secure business licenses while 52 others were issued citations tickets and 10 shops for violation of physical distancing rule.

Aside from bars, other business establishments inspected by the HERTF’s monitoring team were remittance centers, banks, restaurants, food retail shops, retail stores, personal care stores, micro-financing institutions, marketing agencies, ticketing offices, telecom firms, laundry shops, and internet cafes. (PNA)