BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance requiring the use of face masks during a state of public health emergency caused by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the city and in the country as a whole and providing penalties for violations.
The ordinance authored by all members of the city legislative body states that the purpose of the enactment of the measure is to safeguard public health and safety of the public from the threats of the deadly virus and to prevent its transmission among the residents, medical personnel, frontliners and all persons in the city.
The ordinance stipulates that any person venturing outside the comforts of their respective abodes or going to public buildings and public places shall, at all times, wear face masks during while the country is in a state of public health emergency and that the same shall apply to all persons, whether residents or not, in all places, found within the territorial jurisdiction of the city government.
However, where the person violating the pertinent provision of the ordinance is a minor, the parents or guardian shall be assessed the corresponding fine or penalty.
Among the prohibited acts enshrined in the measure include leaving their homes to go to public places, buildings, national roads or highways, sidewalks, walkways, or public conveyances without wearing face masks; going to workplace whether in enclosed or open spaces, without wearing face mask; travelling through city roads, alley ways, or streets, where in vehicles, whether public or private, without wearing face masks and that vehicles shall include motorcycles and hoarding, profiteering, or manipulating of prices of face masks being sold to the general public.
Under the proposed ordinance, individuals refusing to wear masks shall be fined P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense, and P3,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 3 months or both upon the discretion of the court.
For those who had been found to have been hoarding and profiteering from the sale of face masks, violators shall be imposed a fine of P3,000.
Further, the license to operate any establishment or any public conveyance covered by the pertinent provisions of the measure shall also be suspended for at least 7 days but not more than 30 days, or revoked, should the same fail to perform the necessary action within 15 days upon receipt of a notice of violation or fails to pay the corresponding penalty as stated in the citation ticket for the violation committed.
The ordinance points out that the suspension or revocation of the license or permit of the erring establishment or public conveyance shall only be lifted once all the requirements upon re-inspection and evaluation of the City health Services Office, City Buildings and Architecture office (CBAO), Permits and licensing Division and the appropriate agency or government body has been fully complied.
The ordinance claims apprehended or cited individuals for violation of any of the prohibited acts of the measure who do not wish to contest the violation and are willing to voluntarily pay the administrative penalty imposed on him or her for the first and second offenses prior to the filing of formal charges with the proper court shall be allowed to pay the penalty with the City Treasurer’s Office within 5 regular business days from the apprehension to avoid being criminally prosecuted, otherwise, the case shall be prosecuted in court.
By Dexter A. See