PR
Heeding the directive of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Valenzuela City Council enacted Ordinance No. 687, Series of 2020 also known as the “Wear Your Face Mask Ordinance”, requiring all individuals to don face masks and other similar protective covers or equipment when going out of their residences to prevent and contain the transmission of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Despite the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the number of COVID-19 cases has ballooned to more than 3,000 in recent days. This has prompted the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to order the public the compulsory wearing of face masks.
These masks can be earloop masks, indigenous masks, reusable or do-it-yourself masks, face shields, handkerchiefs, or other protective equipment of the public, shown to effectively slow down or reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Taking its cue from the DILG and the IATF-EID and seeing the urgency of the situation, the Valenzuela City Council immediately set up and enforced precautionary measures to curb the possible further transmission of the dreaded disease. To date, there are thirty-five (35) COVID-19 positive cases in the city, still one of the lowest registered number of cases in Metro Manila.
Under the “Wear Your Face Mask” Ordinance, individuals, residents, and/or non-residents traveling to or visiting all public spaces or taking the public transport within Valenzuela City are obligated to wear face masks or other improvised protective paraphernalia that can sufficiently cover both the nose and the mouth.
Task Force Disiplina and the Philippine National Police-Valenzuela City will join forces to implement the Ordinance. Anyone who fails to comply with it will be issued an Ordinance Violation Receipt (OVR). First-time violators will be fined PHP 1,000, while second and third-time offenders will be penalized PHP 3,000 and PHP 5,000, respectively.
Valenzuela City’s “Wear Your Face Mask” Ordinance was authored by District 1 Councilor Rovin Andrew M. Feliciano. It was approved during the 7th Special Session of the 8th City Council held on April 7, via multi-point video conferencing.
