The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) stressed Thursday that videoke singing in public remains prohibited this Holiday Season as loud singing and sharing of microphones increase viral spread by 449 percent compared to normal talking.
 
In a news briefing, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya confirmed that the Department of Health (DOH) based this on recent studies particularly by the aerosol science and technology journal.
 
With the findings of the medical experts and the DOH, Malaya appealed to the public to forego these traditional festivities and instead celebrate the Holiday Season solemnly with their immediate family members.
 
Reminding the public’s and government’s nine-month ordeal to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Malaya stressed that community singing events in barangay halls or karaoke singing among neighbors should be waived this Yuletide Season.
 
But, Malaya explained videoke singing even with rented karaoke machines inside the homes are allowed provided that no other people are invited as this will constitute a violation of the provision against mass gatherings.
 
With regards to what sanctions should be imposed, Malaya said that it depends on the ordinances of the local government units (LGUs) as the statement of DILG Secretary Eduardo Año merely discourages the use of karaoke while encouraging the localities to pass ordinances that would penalize the violators.
 
Stressing further, Malaya explained if the said violation merits a warning or fine based on the ordinance of an LGU then that is what should apply.
 
He noted that the LGUs or the barangays and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are mandated to enforce these laws.
 
Under the recent inter-Agency task Force (IATF) regulations, Malaya said that only restaurants and not videoke or karaoke bars are allowed to operate.
 
Concerning the social distancing violations committed during the opening of the mall in Zamboanga City that went viral, Malaya said the DILG regional office and the PNP are conducting an investigation on the matter.
 
He noted that the DILG regional office was ordered to confer with the mall management to determine what happened.
 
Malaya explained that the DILG will wait for the final report of its regional office and issue a recommendation to the LGU of its findings stressing that it is up to the locality to penalize the mall owners for the violation.
 
He maintained that the Zamboanga City government can immediately impose whatever sanctions are necessary.
 
Based on the video, Malaya noted the mall management erred in maintaining order in their grounds as security personnel were only deployed on the entry points of the shopping area.
 
Although full judgment cannot be determined merely on a single video, Malaya observed that there were clustering of people leading to the entry point of the mall as no security guards were on hand to maintain social distancing protocols.