Residents of Malabon, Valenzuela, Pasay and Quezon City are now required to wear surgical masks whenever they step out of their houses to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine.
Malabon Mayor Lenlen Oreta has signed Executive Order No. 20-04-02-015, which ordered the mandatory use of face masks within the city, especially in public places such as grocery stores and government buildings. It also asked the public to practice social distancing for the duration of the Luzon-wide lockdown and “while the threat of COVID-19 is still persisting.”
Under the order, which took effect immediately after it was signed on April 2, a copy of the order should be displayed at the entrance of all private commercial establishments with customers who refuse to comply barred from entry.
In Valenzuela, the city council passed on Tuesday City Ordinance No. 687 Series of 2020, or the “Wear Your Face Mask Ordinance,” which imposes a P1,000 fine for the first violation, P3,000 for the second and P5,000 for the third.
If surgical masks are unavailable, people will be allowed to use reusable or do-it-yourself (DIY) masks such as handkerchiefs, pieces of cloth and other materials as long as these cover both the nose and mouth.
The ordinance will remain in effect for the duration of the extended enhanced community quarantine and just like in Malabon, it will apply to both residents and nonresidents.
As of Wednesday, Malabon has recorded 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases with five deaths, while Valenzuela has 36 cases with four deaths. Both cities have one resident each who has recovered from the virus.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte also signed a similar executive order on Monday.
Executive Order No. 25 required residents to wear any form of covering for the nose and mouth such as medical masks, industrial masks, “earloop” masks, DIY masks, cloth masks, improvised masks and face shields.
Under the order, public spaces included streets, highways, sidewalks, parking lots, vacant lots and common areas in churches, apartments, buildings, hospitals, schools, malls or shopping centers.
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Commercial establishments and places of entertainment such as movie theaters and similar places or establishments were also listed in the order.
Policemen, barangay officials and members of QC Task Force Disiplina, as well as the city’s departments of public order and safety and market development and administration, were ordered to enforce the order. They were also told to distribute masks to those without one.
Violators will be penalized under Section 9 of Republic Act No. 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, with a fine of P20,000 to P50,000 or imprisonment of one to six months.
In Pasay City, Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano and the city council signed Executive Order No. 47 making surgical masks mandatory for residents to “ensure the success of the imposed enhanced community quarantine.” The order remains effective unless lifted by Rubiano.
—With reports from Jodee A. Agoncillo and Mariejo S. Ramos