Quezon City enforces mandatory face mask rule

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City residents are now required to wear face masks when in public to reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, the city government said Tuesday.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte announced that she has signed Executive Order No. 25, Series of 2020, directing residents to wear “surgical masks, medical masks, industrial masks, earloop masks, do-it-yourself masks, cloth masks, improved masks or face shields” when going outside of their homes to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Umaasa akong makatutulong ang hakbang na ito upang mabawasan ang pagkalat ng COVID-19 sa ating lungsod,” Belmonte said in a statement.

(I am hoping that this measure will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the city.)

Belmonte also assured residents that city government enforcers will be distributing face masks to ensure that everyone will comply with the order.

Under the executive order, violators of the mandatory face mask rule will face penalties stated under Section 10 of Republic Act No. 11332 or Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

The penalty for violating Republic Act No. 11332 is imprisonment of one month to six months or a fine ranging from P20,000 to P50,000.

The order was issued after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año urged local government units to sign an ordinance mandating residents to wear face masks in public.

/MUF