Anyone who spits or blow one’s nose in public places in Caloocan City will be fined the sum of at least P1,000 or detained for at least 10 days.

These penalties are contained in Ordinance No. 11-111 (The Anti-spitting Ordinance) passed by the city council which aims "to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 diseases in the city."

Councilor Orvince Hernandez, author of the ordinance, said when the council "approved this ordinance, it was very clear in minds that this would boost effort to reduce, if not totally stop, the transmission of the coronavirus."

Under the ordinance, “no person shall carelessly, deliberately or indiscriminately spit saliva or expel phlegm, mucous, or other substances from the mouth or from the nose in public streets, alleys, sidewalks, parks, squares, malls, markets, halls, public motor vehicles, buildings, banks, terminals, shopping and business centers, schools, churches, hospitals, clinics, and other public places.”

For the first offense, violators will be fined "P1,000 and will be required to attend a health seminar to be conducted by the City Health Department, or subsidiary imprisonment of 10 days in case of insolvency, or both at the discretion of the court."

Meanwhile, "a fine of P5,000 or subsidiary imprisonment of one month in case of insolvency, or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court for the second offense."

Although spitting in public places is already prohibited under the anti-littering ordinance passed in 2018, Hernandez said "a strong, more focused, more stringent, and comprehensive anti-spitting in public places ordinance is needed in the highly-urbanized Caloocan City amid the pandemic."

"Now, prohibiting spitting in public places is no longer dedicated only to preserving and promoting cleanliness in the surroundings, but a highly-needed health measure as well aimed at protecting our people from acquiring the COVID-19 disease and other highly communicable diseases like tuberculosis,” he added.