File photo
MANILA – A party-list lawmaker on Wednesday suggested establishing drive-through services and pickup points in all supermarkets nationwide to reduce the risk of exposure to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
ACT-CIS Rep. Niña Taduran said while physical distancing rules are enforced in these establishments, there is still a possibility of contracting the virus while shopping and in lines.
“Speaking not as a lawmaker but as a homemaker who has the task of making regular grocery runs, I sympathize with the people standing in line for their turn to enter the supermarket,” Taduran said.
She cited the plan proposed by Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Chief for Administration Lt. Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan to establish drive through services for all frontline services of the PNP like gun registration and vehicle clearances.
“I commend the General for coming up with a brilliant solution to minimize the public’s and the PNP’s risk of exposure to the disease. Taking the cue from the PNP, I thought it was a good idea to implement the same for daily essentials like grocery shopping as well,” she said.
Taduran also suggested to supermarket owners to create online portals where consumers can preorder the items, pay in advance, and pick them up in the proposed drive-through section. Those without cars could pick up their purchased items from the grocery counters.
“Sa pamamagitan nito ay mababawasan ang mahabang panahon ng paghihintay para lang makapasok sa tindahan at makapili ng kanilang bibilhin (Through this, we could reduce the long hours of waiting just to enter the store and pick the items to buy),” she said. “Tanggapin na natin na ganito na ang (Let us accept that this is the) ‘new normal’ and the only thing we can do to save ourselves from Covid is to adapt.”
She said legislation is no longer required for such a proposal, noting that it just requires the cooperation of the supermarket owners in the country. (PNA)
