Angeles City—Girly bars, massage clinics, KTVs and other entertainment businesses along the Fields Avenue strip were ordered to close temporarily by the local government here starting Monday as to control the movement of people and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Fields Avenue is frequented by foreign and local tourists who want some rest and recreation during their stay here, being the center of entertainment and leisure in Central Luzon.
Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin issued the directive to contain the city from COVID 19, though no case has been recorded so far here.
“We are doing everything we can to protect our people amid the rising cases of COVID-19. If they [owners] don’t follow our orders, we will close them for good and revoke their mayor’s permits. Closure is still indefinite. In this time, we must limit our people’s movements,” Lazatin said in a statement.
He said the closure order would not apply to malls, supermarkets, groceries, food stores and restaurants, pharmacies, banks, and similar stores that are providing basic commodities to the public.
The Mayor is appealing to Angeleños to stay in their respective houses and just go outside if necessary. He also asked parents to let their children stay at home.
“By doing this, we are ensuring the safety of our kids and families,” he said. “If it’s not important, don’t go out. If you do, please bring alcohol and hand sanitizer.”
Lazatin said the city government will utilize an airconditioned container van placed near the Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC), also known as Ospital Ning Angeles (ONA), which will be used by the city as holding areas for Persons Under Investigation (PUI).
Meanwhile, the city government started stockpiling 230 sacks of rice, 500 boxes of canned goods and multivitamins, which will be distributed to affected families should the need arise, said IC Calaguas, head tactician of Lazatin.
She said the city government also purchased face masks, biohazard suits and other medical equipment, including COVID-19 testing kits, to ensure that Angeles is ready amidst the state of public health emergency currently faced by the country.