HPMRU News Release
December 2, 2020
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III today visited Farmers Market in Quezon City to tell everyone that the celebration of the Yuletide Season is on with the strict and continued adherence to the Minimum Public Health Standards (MPHS) for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sec. Duque was welcomed by the Administrator of Farmers Market, Ms. Margarita Flores, and her administrative staff.
The Health Secretary reminded the market stall owners, vendors, market-goers, mall-goers and shoppers to abide by the basic health and safety protocols while celebrating the yuletide season to prevent the surge of COVID-19 cases in the country. He elucidated to the public the importance of the BIDA Solusyon sa COVID-19 campaign of the Department of Health. BIDA is the acronym of the behavioral campaign such that B is for Bawal walang mask, I refers to I-sanitize ang mga kamay, Iwas hawak sa mga bagay. D means Dumistansya ng isang metro. Whereas, A stands for Alamin ang totoong impormasyon.
According to Sec. Duque, food safety is of prime importance. He recognized wet market staff as frontliners in proving the food we need, purchase and consume daily. Food safety practices such as food storage, food handling and food preparation must be practiced at all times. Likewise, the observance of the BIDA Solusyon is considered as the first line of defense for both the tindero/tindera (merchant) and the mamimili (consumer) in the marketplace since people converge in this place even during this time of pandemic.
Meanwhile, Sec. Duque led the DOH team in distributing BIDA family hygiene kits to several vendors and consumers at the Farmers Market. He went around the place and personally talked to the people and kept an eye on the health and safety advisories conspicuously displayed in strategic sites of the marketplace and the enforcement of the protocols.
Dr. Corazon I. Flores, OIC-Director IV of the DOH-Metro Manila Center for Health Development and her team joined Sec. Duque and the DOH Officials in this significant effort.