MANILA, Philippines — At least 700 local government units (LGUs) nationwide have failed to pass ordinances that will impose penalties against violators of minimum health protocols that are being enforced to contain the spread of Covid-19, an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Saturday.
In a text message to INQUIRER.net, DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said 700 LGUs, composed of provinces, cities, and municipalities, have no local laws to penalize the “non-wearing of face masks.”
Meanwhile, Densing noted that 878 other local governments have existing ordinances that penalize residents that will fail to follow basic health rules.
With this, Densing said the DILG will be issuing a memorandum ordering LGUs to pass ordinances that will penalize residents who will violate Covid-19 protocols.
“We will issue an advisory next week that orders local government units to pass ordinances that would impose penalties for those who will leave their homes without following the minimum public health standards,” Densing said, in mixed Filipino and English, in an earlier interview with radio station dzBB.
Nearly a year since the government imposed quarantine restrictions, the Philippines has reported 574,247 total Covid-19 cases. This includes 37,093 active cases, 524,865 recovered cases, and 12,289 deaths.