The Muntinlupa City Council passed an ordinance on Jan. 10 restricting the movement of unvaccinated individuals amid a rise in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.
Councilors adopted the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Resolution 22–01 signed by Metro Manila mayors including Muntinlupa’s Jaime Fresnedi imposing restrictions on the movement of unvaccinated individuals.
One section of the ordinance states that “all persons, including all elected and appointed officials and employees of the City Government of Muntinlupa and all Barangay elected and appointed officials and employees, shall be required to present Vaccination Card or its digitized version or RT/PCR test or its digitized version showing proof of their full vaccination before entering any government office, building and other facilities or before availing or securing the services of both the City and Barangay.”
The MMDA resolution urged Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) to enact ordinances on the enhanced restrictions on unvaccinated individuals.
Under the MMDA resolution, Metro Manila mayors agreed that unvaccinated individuals in the NCR should:
1. Remain in their residences at all times 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; Provided, however, that individual outdoor exercise shall be allowed within the general area of their residence, e. g., within the barangay, purok, subdivision, or village subject to the guidelines of the Metro Manila LGUs;
2. Be prohibited in indoor and outdoor/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 in accordance with the guidelines of the Metro Manila LGUs and the concerned establishments;
3. Be prohibited 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;
4. Be required to undergo a Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT PCR) test every two (2) weeks at their personal expense and present a COVID-19 negative result prior to being admitted for work onsite consistent with the guidelines, rules, and regulations issued by the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) and the Department of Labor and Employment; Provided, however, that in the event that the RT PCR test and/or result is/are not immediately available, a Rapid Antigen Test may be utilized in lieu thereof.
As of Jan. 9, Muntinlupa has 1,695 active COVID-19 cases out of 29,408 confirmed cases, 27,131 recoveries, and 582 deaths.