Mandaluyong issues ordinance regulating mobility of unvaccinated individuals
FIRST SHOT People who have yet to receive their COVID-19 vaccine get their first dose at a vaccination center set up at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City during the first day of the “Bayanihan Bakunahan,” the three-day national vaccination drive. —NIñO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — The Mandaluyong City Council has issued an ordinance regulating the mobility of individuals in the city who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Under Section 4 of Ordinance No. 869, series of 2022, “all non-fully vaccinated individuals shall remain in their residences at all times except for the procurement of essential goods and services, provided, however, that individual outdoor exercise shall be allowed within the general area of their residence.”
All individuals not fully vaccinated shall also be “prohibited in indoor and outdoor/al fresco dining in restaurants and other food establishments and shall likewise be prohibited from leisure or social trips to the malls, hotels, even venues, sports and country clubs, and similar facilities.”
They shall also be “prohibited in public transportation except for the procurement of essential goods and services subject to the production of proof to support and justify such travel.”
The ordinance was signed and approved by Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos on January 8 and was posted on the Facebook page of the city public information office on Tuesday.
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Article continues after this advertisementMeanwhile, Section 5 states that non-fully vaccinated individuals shall be required to undergo an RT-PCR test every two weeks at their personal expense and present a negative COVID-19 test result prior to being admitted for work onsite, subject to issuances of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Department of Labor and Employment.
A rapid antigen test may be utilized if RT-PCR test is not immediately available.
“The employer shall have the option to provide a non-fully vaccinated employee a grace period of one calendar month to obtain his or her first COVID-19 vaccination shot. As long as the employee obtains the first shot within this grace period, and subsequently obtains any required second shot as prescribed for the concerned vaccine, the employee shall not be required to take the biweekly tests or otherwise be held liable under this clause,” the ordinance read.
“The ordinance shall be applicable to all individuals whether residents or non-residents or merely transients who may be violating this Ordinance,” the document read.
According to the city council, an individual is considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least two weeks after receiving the second shot of a two-dose vaccine, or the first shot of a single-dose vaccine.
In case an unvaccinated or a non-fully vaccinated individual wants to leave his or her residence to avail of essential goods and services, the concerned barangay captain should issue an Authorized Person Outside Residence pass.
Anyone found to have violated Sections 4 and 5 of the ordinance shall be penalized with a fine of at least P3,000 to P5,000, or imprisonment of three months, or both, at the discretion of the court.
If the offense was committed by a corporation, partnership or other juridical entity, the chief executive officer, president, general manager, or other officers-in-charge will be held liable, according to the ordinance.
“In addition, the business permit and license to operate of the concerned entity shall be suspended or canceled after hearing. As a preventive measure, immediate closure of the establishment shall be made pending such hearing,” it added.
The ordinance shall take effect after publication in a newspaper of general circulation and shall remain in effect while Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3 or higher. It shall be automatically lifted once Alert Level 2 or lower is declared in the region.
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