IN an effort to further contain the spread of Covid-19, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has expressed its support to the national government’s move to ban dine-in services in canteens and smoking in workplaces in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
“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,” MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said, adding that these additional health protocols jointly crafted by the Departments of Health, Labor and Employment, and Trade and Industry duly approved by President Duterte, must be strictly followed for everybody’s safety.
Lim also said the MMDA, through its own Covid-19 committee, has formulated and implemented internal guidelines to help combat the spread of the virus among its personnel. These include 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 in 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 100 meter perimeter of schools in Metro Manila.
“Despite the existence of Covid-19 pandemic, we continuously conduct online trainings for local government unit 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 on Tuesday 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.