Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, together with Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan, Metro Manila Center for Health Development OIC – Director Corazon Flores, National Capital inspected SM Megamall on Wednesday to ensure its implementation and enforcement of Minimum Public Health Standards (MPHS) among shoppers this holiday season.
The Department of Health (DOH) team was welcomed by SM Malls President Steven Tan and Vice President Grace Magno who highlighted the health protocols for its shoppers and mall tenants, including prohibiting entry to those not wearing face masks and shields.
Tan also underscored its use of floor markers for physical distancing and Trace Together, its contact tracing program. With Trace Together, customers can fill up a contactless health declaration form through scanning QR codes. The details will be valid for 7 days across all branches and mall affiliates, making contact tracing and movement easier.
The Health Chief acknowledged the role of the mall sector as an integral cog in revitalizing the economy. SM Malls are partners of the BIDA Solusyon campaign and have relentlessly implemented MPHS in all its branches to ensure safe shopping experience. He also reminded the public to not let their guards down as a surge of positive cases is anticipated during the holiday shopping rush.
During the press briefing Mandaluyong Mayor Carmelita “Menchie” Aguilar Abalos thanked its City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU) for its aggressive contact tracing efforts and took on the Health Chief’s challenge to bring down the city’s numbers to a single digit.
“We expect overcrowding as shoppers try to find ways to prepare for the holiday break. Therefore, we need to be extra careful and extra responsible in our actions. Sanitize whenever possible and be strict in physical distancing during shopping. Let us think of our frontliners and be mindful of the minimum public health standards and protocols of establishments when shopping and preparing for the holiday season. With care and caution, we can prevent bringing the virus home to our loved ones,” Duque appealed.
