Pateros Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III has imposed a curfew for unvaccinated minors aged 17 years old and below under Alert Level 3.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has placed the National Capital Region under Alert Level 3 from Jan. 3 to 15 due to the threat of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the COVID-19.
Ponce issued Executive Order No. 1 (series of 2022) “setting and defining the rules, policies and guidelines to govern and to be implemented in the Municipality of Pateros under the General Community Quarantine Alert Level 3 and providing for restrictions on unvaccinated persons starting January 3, 2022 and for other purposes.”
Under his order, a curfew will be imposed in Pateros under Alert Level 3 from midnight to 4 a.m. for minors aged 17 years old and below “except when they are vaccinated and are accompanied by their parent/s or when attending to work or business.”
He also required the use of face shields for people going inside hospitals, health centers and facilities, and enclosed vaccination and isolation facilities.
Ponce and other Metro Manila mayors passed Resolution No. 1 (series of 2022) imposing restrictions on unvaccinated individuals starting Jan. 3, a move “to further encourage and boost vaccination and prevent serious symptoms and critical effects on people infected with the virus.”
His order adopted the IATF guidelines in the implementation of Alert Level 3. These are:
1. Only vaccinated individuals shall be allowed outside their residences. Provided that unvaccinated persons may be allowed outside when they are procuring essential goods and services such as, but not limited to, food, water, medicine, medical devices, public utilities and energy, work and medical and dental necessities. Provided further, that individual outdoor exercises shall be allowed for all ages regardless of comorbidities or vaccination status limited within the general area of their residences (MMC Resolution # 001, Series of 2022);
2. Similarly, unvaccinated individuals shall be prohibited from the following:
a. In-door and out-door/al fresco dining in restaurants and other food establishments and shall likewise be prohibited from leisure or social trips to malls, hotels, event venues, sports and country clubs and similar facilities;
b. In domestic travel via public transportation by land, sea and air except for the procurement of essential goods and services such as, but not limited to, food, water, medicine, medical devices, public utilities and energy, work and medical and dental necessities, subject to the production of proof to support and justify such travel (MMC Resolution # 001, Series of 2022);
c. Access to or inside Local Government and Barangay offices and establishments except health centers when in need of health services;
3. Unvaccinated individuals shall be required to undergo a RT PCR (swab) test every two (2) weeks at their personal expense and present a COVID-19 negative result prior to being admitted for work on site (MMC Resolution # 001, Series of 2022);
4. Intrazonal and Interzonal travel of persons not otherwise required to remain in their residences in the preceding paragraph may be allowed subject to the reasonable regulations of the Local Government of destination;
5. The following establishments and/or activities characterized as high-risk for transmission shall not be allowed to operate or be undertaken:
a. Face to face or in-person classes for basic education, except those previously approved by the AITF and/or the Office of the President;
b. Contact sports except those conducted under a bubble-typeset up as provided for under relevant guidelines adopted by the AITF, Games and Amusement Board, and the Philippine Sports Commission and approved by the LGU where such games shall be held;
c. Funfairs/peryas and kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playroom and kiddie rides;
d. Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences such as in karaoke bars, clubs concert halls and theaters;
e Casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops and other gaming establishments except as may be authorized by the AITF or the Office of the President; and
f. Gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household;
6. The following establishments or activities shall be allowed to operate or be undertaken at a maximum of 30% indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated only and 50% outdoor venue capacity. Provided that all on-site workers/employees of these establishments and organizers of activities are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and the Minimum Public Health Standard shall be strictly maintained. Provided further, that there is no objection from the LGU where these activities may take place:
a. Venues for meetings, incentives conferences and exhibitions;
b. Permitted venues for social events such as parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions, and bridal or baby showers;
c. Visitors or tourist attractions such as libraries, archives, museums, galleries, exhibits, parks, plazas, public gardens, scenic viewpoints or overlooks and the like;
d. Amusement parks or theme parks;
e. Recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, skating rinks, archery halls, swimming pools and similar venues;
f. Cinemas and movie houses;
g. Limited face-to-face or in-person classes for higher education and for technical-
vocational education and training;
h. In-person religious gatherings; gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment and funerals for those who died of causes other than Covid-19 and for the cremains of the Covid-19 deceased;
i. Licensure or entrance/qualifying examinations administered by their respective government agency, and specialty examination authorized by the AITF subject to the health and safety guidelines as approved by the AITF;
j. Dine-in services in food preparation establishments such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants and eateries, subject to DTI sector-specific protocols;
k. Personal care establishments such as barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, and nail spas, and those offering aesthetic/cosmetic services or procedures, make-up services, salons, spas, reflexology, and other similar procedures including home service options, subject to the sector-specific protocols of the DTI;
l. Fitness studios, gyms and venues for non-contact exercises and sports, subject to DTI sector-specific protocols. Provided that patrons/clients and workers/employees wear face masks at all times and that no group activities are conducted; and
m. Film, music, and television production, subject to the joint guidelines as may be issued by the DTI, DOLE and the DOH.
7. Agencies and instrumentalities of the government shall remain to be fully operational and shall adhere to at least 60% on-site workforce.