The Philippine National Police (PNP) will double its presence in “convergence areas” as it anticipates more shoppers as Christmas approaches, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Sunday.

In a radio interview, Año acknowledged the increase in sales promos in malls and stores as well as the number of shoppers going to the events.

He said local government units (LGU) and the PNP will assign additional enforcers in convergence areas like tiangge (bazaars), markets and malls so that health [protocols] like physical distancing are properly enforced.

The additional deployment will be under the supervision of the PNP’s Joint Task Force Covid Shield, Año said.

LtGen. Cesar Binag, the task force commander, said the Manila Police District chief has been directed to prepare for the surge of holiday shoppers in Divisoria, the city’s traditional bargain center

Binag said the public must help ensure the government’s guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease are observed.