Noose tightening on unvaxxed Metro Manila residents in move to protect public health
AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Following San Juan City’s announcement on Monday, other local governments on Wednesday also passed their own ordinances complying with the resolution jointly issued by the Metro Manila Council and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority urging local governments to limit the mobility of unvaccinated residents and protect the health and lives of others.
In Quezon City, an ordinance introduced by Councilors Eric Medina, Franz Pumaren, Donny Matias and Jun Ferrer states that unvaccinated persons may not enter establishments for dine-in or other purposes of leisure.
Unvaccinated workers in the city are required to undergo a COVID-19 test every two weeks “at their personal expense.”
Individual violators will also be fined P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for the second, and P3,000 for the third and subsequent offenses, according to the Quezon City government.
Grace period
The ordinance also says that establishments found to have violated the city law will be fined P3,000 for the first offense, P5,000 and suspension of their business permit for the second, and P5,000 worth of fine and cancellation of their business permit for the third.
However, according to Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, the largest city in the metropolis with a population of over 2 million has allowed for some leniency, providing city-based employers a grace period to have their unvaccinated workers get their COVID-19 shot within a month.
“As long as the worker obtains the first shot within the grace period, and subsequently obtains any required second shot as prescribed for the concerned vaccine, the worker shall not be required to take the biweekly test,” the city government said.
Workers with a medical condition preventing them from getting jabbed against COVID-19 are also excused from getting the biweekly tests, provided that the worker submits a medical certification from a physician, the ordinance states.
Muntinlupa, too
In Muntinlupa City, the city council is also scheduled to pass an ordinance for mobility restrictions for unvaccinated individuals.
In the meantime, individuals visiting city government offices are now required to present their vaccination cards or negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results done within two weeks.
The cost of the RT-PCR test will be shouldered by the visiting individual, while employees who violate the order will receive an administrative sanction in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission.
