Supermarket operations for 12 hours not possible, says owners' group

Philippine supermarket operators will not be able to heed the request of the government to extend operations to 12 hours, as most of them are already undermanned given the quarantine placed over Luzon.

According to Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association (PAGASA) president Steven Cua, granting the request of 12-hour operations is "not possible" given the current conditions.

"We're trying out very best, but to (keep) them more than 12 hours is already, I think not possible," he said in an interview on GMA Super Radyo dzBB.

"I know they want us to prolong our hours para 'yung mga senior citizen makabili, sa haba ng pila, kaya lang that doesn't guarantee that people will come at those hours. Baka last minute lang din dumating lahat, wala din 12 hours 'yun, hindi effective," added Cua.

He was responding to the request of the government for groceries, wet markets, pharmacies, and other retailers selling essential services to operate for 12 hours while the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is placed over Luzon.

"Supermarkets, public and private wet markets, grocery stores, agri-fishery supply stores, pharmacies, and other establishments engaged in the business of selling basic necessities are strongly encouraged to extend store operating hours to a maximum of 12 hours," Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Thursday.

From 12:00 a.m. on March 17, the entirety of Luzon was placed on enhanced community quarantine until April 13, 2020, restricting travel within the region in efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

"Hindi kaya because undermanned ang mga supermarkets ngayon. Hindi naman complete ang workforce, maraming hindi nakakapasok hanggang ngayon mula noong umpisa more than two weeks ago, so pilay ang mga tindahan," explained Cua.

"It's not a matter of payag or hindi payag, it's a matter of anong kakayahan. Ang manufacturing kaya mo bang mag-produce 100% what did you produce before this COVID-19 thing?" he added. -NB, GMA News