The city government of Lapu-Lapu, Cebu will no longer implement its "no vaccine, no entry" policy in commercial centers, Malacañang announced Tuesday.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Lapu-Lapu City mayor Junard "Ahong" Chan has revoked his executive order on the movement curbs on the unvaccinated after the city has been placed under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).
The EO 40 issued by the mayor stated that only vaccinated can enter public and private markets, department stores, grocery and convenience stores starting Aug. 25. The order, issued when the city was still under general community quarantine, supposedly aimed to encourage people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus but drew criticisms on social media.
The cities of Lapu-Lapu, Cebu and Mandaue have been placed under MECQ from August 1 to 15 while Cebu province stayed under the stricter GGQ during the same period to curb the coronavirus outbreak.
"Nakakuha tayo ng impormasyon mula kay Mayor Ahong ng Lapu Lapu City na ang kanyang EO 40 na nagsasabi na hindi pwedeng pumások sa mga commercial centers ang mga unvaccinated has been revoked (We received information from Mayor Ahong of Lapu-Lapu City that his EO 40 stating the unvaccinated could not enter commercial centers has been revoked)," Roque said during a televised press briefing.
"Uulitin ko po, yung kontrobersyal na EO 40 in Lapu-Lapu City has been revoked dahil ang Lapu-Lapu City ay napasailalim na sa MECQ so wala na po dahilan para ipatupad ang EO 40 dahil 'yun po ay para sa deklarasyon na GCQ lang (The controversial EO 40 in Lapu-Lapu City has been revoked because Lapu-Lapu City has been placed under MECQ. There is no more reason to implement EO 40 since it was meant for the GCQ declaration)," he added.
Roque also said the city mayor decided to scrap the no vaccine, no entry rule altogether since more Lapu-Lapu residents have started to get inoculated against the virus.
Since the EO was implemented, he cited that the Lapu-Lapu City's daily vaccination rate rose to an average of 6,000 from the previous 2,000.
"Kahapon umabot sa record breaking 8,200 individuals at ang total 39,000 persons sa loob lamang ng anim na araw (The vaccination yesterday reached a record-breaking number of 8,200 individuals and the total numbered 39,000 people in six days)," Roque said.
"Sabi rin niya hindi na kinakailangan ipatupad ang kanyang EO dahil nagpapabakuna na ang mga taga-Lapu-Lapu City. Congratulations sa ating mga kababayan sa Lapu-Lapu City (He also said there was no need to implement his EO because the people of Lapu-Lapu City are getting vaccinated. Congratulations to to our countrymen in Lapu-Lapu City)," he added.
President Duterte, in a recent public address, directed the police and local village officials to prevent people reluctant to get vaccinated from leaving their houses.
According to the President, the anti-vaxxers or those hesitant to receive the vaccines would “be escorted back to your house because you are a walking spreader.”
In his remarks, Duterte also agreed to open the vaccination program to those who want to get inoculated. He said the vaccines should be given to the willing if people belonging to the priority sectors still refuse to get the jabs.