Metro Manila Mayors Create Local Ordinances, Urges the Unvaccinated to Stay Indoors

Following the recent surge in Covid cases, the movement of unvaccinated individuals in Metro Manila has largely been restricted while the region remains under Alert Level 3. Various mayors of Metro Manila have drafted their respective local ordinances with regard to this recent decision. On Monday, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) likewise announced that unvaccinated or partially vaccinated adults and minors will be prohibited from malls, restaurants, hotels, and public transport.

“Para kang nag-ECQ only for the unvaccinated… Ito ay temporary lamang, ito ay habang nasa Alert Level 3 tayo para maproteksyunan din ang walang bakuna,” explained MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos.

(” It’s like an enhanced community quarantine for the unvaccinated. It will be enforced while we are under Alert Level 3 to protect the unvaccinated.”)

The Philippine National Police (PNP), on the other hand, also recognizes the “importance of the proper interpretation and enforcement of the protocol,” according to Gen. Dionardo Carlos. “Every police unit, therefore, must be properly oriented with the local executive orders. They may differ from one another to a certain extent according to the wisdom of the local officials, but definitely, they must synchronize with the national guidelines,” he added.

For his locality, Manila Mayo Isko Moreno announced that they will be returning curfew hours from 10 pm to 4 am for minors given the vulnerability of children to the virus. In San Juan, Mayor Francis Zamora noted that there will be a special session for the creation of their local ordinance. However, he has been vocal about penalizing establishments that will cater to the unvaccinated.

Additionally, the MMDA is looking into creating a system for the checking of vaccination cards granted that there have been reports of fabricated cards being presented to enter into certain establishments. “We’re making arrangements with DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology) and every local government unit in National Capital Region for us to have a cross-referencing in checking whether or not the vaccination card presented is not fake,” affirmed Don Artes, General Manager at MMDA.

Individuals caught using fake vaccination cards and other violators of the local guidelines will be slapped with “a fine of not less than P20,000.00 but not more than P50,000.00 or imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than six months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the proper court,” according to the Metro Manila Council.

Sources: PhilStar, CNN PH