An ordinance regulating the mobility of unvaccinated individuals in Quezon City was approved by the City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 4.
Councilor Franz Pumaren, Councilor Eric Medina, Councilor Donny Matias, and Councilor Jun Ferrer Jr. authored the ordinance.
The measure is in line with Resolution No. 22-01 issued by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Metro Mayors Council (MMC), which urges the local government units to implement enhanced restrictions for individuals who are not vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Under the ordinance, unvaccinated persons are only allowed to leave their homes for essential purposes (e.g. work, food and medical services). They are prohibited to enter establishments for leisure and to dine-in.
Workers who have yet to get jabbed are also required to undergo COVID-19 test every two weeks at their personal expense, according to the local government.
On the other hand, the council added a provision granting unvaccinated workers a one-month grace period to get inoculated with their first dose.
They will be exempted from the tests once they obtain their initial jab within the grace period, followed by their second dose of the prescribed vaccine.
Workers with medical conditions preventing them from being fully vaccinated are also exempted from the tests as long as they present a medical certificate from a physician.
Violators will be fined P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for the second offense, and P3,000 for the third time.
Establishments caught violating the ordinance will be fined P3,000 for the first offense, P5,000 with suspension of business permits for the second offense, and P5,000 with cancellation of permits for the third offense.
Meanwhile, individuals caught falsifying vaccination cards may also be persecuted under the city's "Ordinance Prohibiting COVID-19 Vaccine Fraud”, the local government said.
"We recognize the inconvenience this Ordinance may place on some people. However, we must remember that lives are at stake. We all must support the national government’s urgent call for a vaccine mandate, especially given the new surge in cases," Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
She also urged the unvaccinated residents to get jabbed against the virus. Those who have completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines are likewise encouraged to get their booster shots.