Pateros Mayor Miguel Ponce III has banned caroling, big parties and house-to-house solicitation this Christmas season to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Ponce issued Executive Order 32 mandating that effective Dec. 1 until Jan. 10, the following activities are barred in Pateros:
• All forms of caroling or solicitation of cash or gift thru singing of Christmas songs or melodies or any similar acts or presentations;
• Christmas party/ies or any mass gatherings in celebration of Christmas or any activity or program in relation to any occasion when the participants are more than ten (10) persons. Provided that immediate members of the same family may hold Christmas Party or gathering in celebration of the Christmas season inside their houses or residence or indoor;
• House-to-house Christmas and New Year well-wishing or solicitation of Christmas gift or cash;
• Tianggehan or temporary market on the sidewalk or streets or any open space.
Any violation will merit a 12-hour imprisonment for the first offense and a case of disobedience will be filed for the second offense. The goods in the tianggehan will be confiscated by the Pateros municipal government.
Ponce also shortened the curfew hours in Pateros from midnight to 3 a.m. effective Dec. 1 and ordered the police, barangays, COVID-19 Task Force and other municipal agencies to implement the rules.
As of Nov. 27, Pateros has 1,924 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 1,861 recoveries and 31 deaths, and 32 active cases.