Cebu City police to inspect food establishments

LOCAL police in Cebu City will be regularly inspecting small food establishments and even street food vendors to check if they are complying with health protocols, including not allowing dine-in services in their establishments.

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is requiring their 11 station commanders to coordinate with barangay officials in their jurisdiction to assist them in inspecting food establishments.

Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, CCPO deputy director for operations, made the order after they conducted an inspection of food establishments doing business at the Cebu City Hall on Monday, Aug. 23, 2021.

Parilla said they want to monitor food establishments closely as they are often the cause of Covid-19 superspreader events as more people often converge there to eat.

During their inspection, Parilla and his personnel advised popular street food establishments such as those selling pungko-pungko, Tuslob Buwa and even food carts to prohibit dine-in services.

Parilla, however, assured that they can still operate as long as they offer “Al fresco” or outside dining and they can only accomodate 50 percent of their maximum capacity.

Parilla urged food establishment owners to strictly follow these protocols or they could face arrest for violating the city’s modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) policies.

Parilla instructed their personnel assigned at the Carbon and Sawang Calero Police Stations to focus their inspections around popular food stalls in Barangays Ermita, Pasil and Suba.

He also called upon the public to help the local police by following health protocols as a way to minimize the spread of Covid-19 and prevent the possibility of placing the city under a more stricter enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) status. (AYB / JKV)