Iloilo City, Province Makes Wearing Of Face Masks Mandatory
ILOILO CITY – The city and province governments of Iloilo recently said that wearing of face masks is now mandatory.
Mayor Jerry Treñas recently signed Executive Order No. 60 on April 1, which mandates the public to wear face masks as an additional precautionary means to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
According to Panay News, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan also passed the ordinance which makes wearing of masks mandatory.
Like the rest of the areas in the Philippines, the quarantine will end both in the city and province in April 14.
Treñas said that the facemasks could be but not limited to cloth masks, surgical masks, and any of its kind.
Those who violate with the EO were asked to head home or secure a face mask. They might be also sanctioned like but not limited to warning and filing of appropriate charges in line with RA 11332, also known as theMandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and other laws.
Even the island province of Guimaras makes wearing of face masks mandatory.
June Mondejar, member of Proponent Provincial Board said that wearing masks is the most sensible thing since anyone could be carriers of COVID-19 but they are not showing symptoms.
Mondejar noted that the 18th COVID-19 case in Western Visayas, identified as a 51-year-old househelp, was infected by the employer, the region’s Patient No. 2.
As per the report, under the ordinance, those who violate face the following sanctions:
- 1st offense – reprimand
- 2nd offense – a fine of ₱1,000 or imprisonment for three days, or both at the discretion of the court
- 3rd and following offenses – fine of ₱2,000 or imprisonment for 10 days, or both at the discretion of the court
They are urged to observe social distancing and use face masks, including those at high risk of getting infected.
Section 8 of the ordinance, however, said that the violator may also offer to compromise by paying the administrative fine but it applies only for the first and second offense.
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