Muntinlupa and Taguig will start implementing the longer curfew hours of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting March 15, hoping that coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases will decrease in the next two weeks.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi of Muntinlupa and Mayor Lino Cayetano of Taguig announced the new curfew hours as agreed by the Metro Manila Council (MCC) as a measure following the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region.
The Muntinlupa City Council will pass on March 15 an amendment to an existing ordinance to change the curfew hours from midnight to 3 a.m. to 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to conform with the MMC decision.
Even before the announcement of the longer curfew hours, some netizens have urged the city government to implement curfew starting at 10 p.m.
Those who are exempted from the curfew are Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR), those whose work involves the delivery of essential goods and services, those who work on night shift or a 24-hour on-call duty, and those providing public transportation.
Fresnedi ordered the installation of checkpoints at barangay boundaries to curb the spread of the virus and monitor non-essential travel of residents.
Violators of the curfew will be meted out a fine of P300 for the first offense, P500 for the second, and P1,000 for the third and subsequent offenses.
For minor violators, a stern warning will be given for the first offense, withdrawal of scholarship grants from the city government and for non-grantee, a fine of P300 for the second offense, and a fine of P500 for the third and subsequent offenses. The fines will be charged against their parents or guardians.
In Taguig, the Safe City Task Force also announced the new curfew hours of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. that will start on March 15.
It said residents who are 17 years old and below and those who are 66 years old and above, pregnant women and those with comorbidities or immunodeficiency are not allowed to go outside their residence.
Under the Taguig City Ordinance 2020-24, loitering for unnecessary reasons will be fined P1,000 or violators will be ordered to render community service for four hours.
Pateros, meanwhile, has started implementing the new curfew hours on March 13. Pateros Mayor Miguel Ponce III also imposed a liquor ban that will be in effect from March 13 to 31.