The Pateros municipal government is requiring all unvaccinated workers in the municipality to undergo reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests every two weeks and show negative results under Alert Level 3.
Pateros Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III made the announcement on Jan. 4 as he discussed the rules implemented in the municipality under Alert Level 3, including the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Resolution 22–01 passed by Metro Manila mayors, which imposes restrictions on the movements of unvaccinated persons.
Ponce also 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.”
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) 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 virus.
The mayor said the latest tally showed Pateros has 56 COVID-19 cases up from 38 active cases recorded on Dec. 31. COVID-19 returned to Pateros after the municipality experienced being COVID-19-free for three weeks in December.
“For all workers in Pateros, first of all, you should all be vaccinated, whether you live in Pateros or not. For those workers who remain unvaccinated, you may be inspected and we will require all unvaccinated workers in Pateros to submit every two weeks to our BPLO a proof of RT-PCR test showing you are negative ,” said the mayor during a live broadcast on Facebook.
He said the worker will shoulder the cost of the RT-PCR test to be done in a private testing center.
Under the mayor’s executive order, “Unvaccinated individuals shall be required to undergo an 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).”
Ponce also imposed a curfew on all 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”
The Pateros Municipal Council will enact an ordinance to implement the rules and impose penalties.
“We are doing this not to trample on your rights. We are doing this to protect each other,” said Ponce.
Under the mayor’s executive order, “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).”
Unvaccinated individuals in Pateros are 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.