A barangay in Muntinlupa has issued an order for its employees to wear face masks outside their residence or face sanctions.
Barangay Captain Allen Ampaya of Poblacion signed Executive Order No. 8 on Sept. 16 mandating all employees to wear face masks outside their residence as “they should at all times adhere to laws, rules and regulations, and ordinances, and be a good example to the public.”
Ampaya noted that “presently, there is an increase in COVID-19 positive cases in the Barangay due to the new more transmittable Delta variant of the disease” and “Persons not following health protocols, especially the wearing of face mask in public places, including more than a few Barangay Employees, are contributing to the increase in COVID-19 positive cases in the barangay,” he added.
Under the order, any barangay employee who will be caught either not wearing or not properly wearing a face mask outside of their residence will be suspended for five days without pay for the first offense.
For the second offense, the barangay employee will be suspended for 30 days without pay, and for the third offense, he will be terminated.
Barangay Poblacion encouraged the public to report any barangay staff members who are not following health protocols.
As of Sept. 16, Poblacion has 512 active COVID-19 cases, the highest among nine barangays in the city. In total, Muntinlupa has 2,412 active cases out of 24,108 confirmed cases, 21,200 recoveries and 496 deaths.
Last year, the Muntinlupa City Council passed Ordinance No. 2020-109, the Ordinance on the Mandatory Use of Face Masks in Muntinlupa City, requiring residents and persons in the city to use face coverings or protective clothing to cover the nose, mouth and chin.
Under the ordinance, every person in Muntinlupa is required to wear face masks at all times whenever outside of their residence, at the workplace, when entering government buildings and offices, and while in public places.
Penalties for offenders are P300 for the first offense, P500 for the second offense and P1,000 for the third and subsequent offenses.
For violators who are minors, a stern warning will be given for the first offense, withdrawal of scholarship grant from the local government or P300 for non-grantee for second offense, and P500 for third and subsequent offenses. The penalty fee for minors will be charged against their parents or guardians.