MANILA - Valenzuela City plans to mount its own wet market-on-wheels patterned after Pasig City’s “Mobile Palengke” as part of the local government’s coronavirus response, Mayor Rex Gatchalian said Tuesday.

Gatchalian confirmed that the city government wants to bring basic goods closer to Valenzuela residents after one of his constituents asked on Twitter if the city would also implement the program initiated by Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.

“Plano nga natin gayahin sila sa Pasig sa pamumuno ni mayor @VicoSotto,” Gatchalian said in a tweet.

(We actually plan to copy Pasig that is being led by Mayor Vico Sotto.)

“Kopyahan na eto!!! Wala naman tayo sa school eh... In this case copying is allowed I think,” he said in jest.

(It’s time to copy!!! We are not in school so I guess in this case, copying is allowed.)

Sotto earlier deployed 5 trucks filled with wet market goods -- such as meat, poultry, fruits and vegetables -- to residential communities in Pasig to dissuade the public from flocking to the city’s market to curb the possible transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Health officials earlier said the virus, which has killed at least 35 people in the Philippines, may be easily transmitted in crowded areas through the transfer of droplets from the mouth or nose of an infected person.

Shortly after winning the mayoralty race in 2019, first-time mayor Sotto toured Valenzuela City and sought for tips from Gatchalian who led the northern Metro Manila territory to be hailed as the top capital region city in terms of good governance.

The 2 mayors were also lauded online for implementing quick response programs for their respective constituents shortly after the capital region was placed on a month-long lockdown to contain the coronavirus.