A barangay in Muntinlupa passed an ordinance penalizing its scholars who will violate health and safety protocols.
Under Ordinance No. 1, Barangay Poblacion will impose penalties on recipients of its educational financial assistance if they do not follow health protocols and rules such as wearing of face masks and observing curfew, which is now from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. in Metro Manila.
Barangay Poblacion scholars include college and high school students.
According to the ordinance, barangay scholars violating minimum health protocols and curfew ordinance will be given a stern warning for the first offense. For the second offense, they will be removed as scholars of the barangay; and for the third offense, a fine of P500 will be imposed.
“For minor violators, the penalties for the third and succeeding offenses shall be imposed and the fine shall be charged against their parents or guardian as applicable,” the ordinance read.
The ordinance emphasized that Barangay Poblacion is “currently having an increase of COVID-19 positive cases and the Barangay Government need(s) to intensify its efforts to control the further spread of the pandemic.”
As of Sept. 17, Poblacion has 519 active COVID-19 cases, the highest among the nine barangays in Muntinlupa. The barangay has 4,125 confirmed cases, 3,549 recoveries and 57 deaths.
It noted that “many of those receiving education assistance from the barangay or Barangay Scholars are among those who do not adhere to Health and Community Protocols thereby exposing themselves and others to a greater risk of contracting the disease especially with the emergence of new more transmittable variants.”
Barangay Poblacion earlier issued an order, warning barangay employees that they will be suspended if they are found not wearing or improperly wearing face mask outside their residence.
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.
Muntinlupa has 2,373 active COVID-19 cases as of Sept. 17 out of 24,323 confirmed cases, 21,448 recoveries and 502 deaths.