‘Level 1’ still imposes fines, detention for health protocol breach

Commuters aborad a jeepney in Metro Manila. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO. / RICHARD A. REYES)

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities had their hands full on Day 1 of the “new normal,” accosting close to 22,000 people across the country — and fining or detaining over a tenth of them — for violating minimum health protocols and curfew ordinances.

As Metro Manila and 38 other areas on Tuesday shifted to Alert Level 1, the least restrictive of the five-level community quarantine system, the City of Manila and three regions also enforced granular lockdowns. It’s an option that local governments can always exercise to immediately contain any clustering of new COVID-19 cases, officials said.

“Generally peaceful, with no untoward incident reported,” Philippine National Police chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos said in his assessment of the first day of Alert Level 1 that allowed businesses and public transportation to operate at full capacity.

The PNP said 18,766 individuals were issued warnings, 1,888 were fined, and 1,154 were placed in police custody or made to render community service for breach of health protocols.

At least 4,209 of them were in Metro Manila and were cited for violations ranging from the improper wearing of face masks to failure to observe physical distancing.

Granular lockdown

On the same day the restrictions were eased in Metro Manila, which is home to at least 13.4 million people, local authorities ordered granular lockdowns in 19 areas in Manila, where new COVID-19 infections were reported.

The Ilocos Region also imposed the same measures in 96 areas; Cordillera Administrative Region in 48 areas, and Cagayan Valley in one area.

“Even in alert level 1 areas, the LGUs (local government units) will enforce granular lockdowns to check the areas in the event there is transmission in a certain place,’’ Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said. “In houses, streets, a block or barangay, these areas may be placed under granular lockdown.”

Granular lockdowns are localized community restrictions designed to keep residents of a street, block, barangay, or condominium indoors for a minimum of 14 days to prevent the spread of the virus.

‘Sabit’

As some curbs on public transport were eased, enforcers noted an increase in traffic volume of cars on major thoroughfares, with many buses and jeepneys flagged down for accepting passengers beyond their seating capacity.

Maria Kristina Cassion, executive director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), reminded drivers and commuters that “we are only allowing full seating capacity, no standing passengers or ‘sabit’ (hanging on at the jeepney’s footboard).”

On Tuesday, bus and jeepney drivers defying the restriction were only given verbal warnings, but traffic violations tickets will be issued starting next week, Cassion said.

The first offense requires the driver to appear at the LTFRB central office in Quezon City and pay a P5,000 fine. A second offense results in a P10,000 fine and the impoundment of the vehicle. Third and subsequent offense imposes a 15,000 fine and suspends or cancels the vehicle’s franchise.

PNP checkpoints stay

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police said it would continue to man a total of 777 quarantine control points (QCPs) across the country, despite receiving criticism that they were already causing bottlenecks on the road as traffic slowly returned to pre-pandemic levels.

PNP chief Carlos said the current QCPs could be converted later into law enforcement checkpoints in the run-up to the May 9 polls upon proper coordination with local authorities and the Commission on Elections.

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