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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DILG calls for strict health safety protocol anew amid 2 COVID variants

DILG calls for strict health safety protocol anew amid 2 COVID variants

Published Mar 4, 2021 03:03 pm

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reminded on Thursday, March 4, Local Government Units which no longer impose penalties on violators of the minimum health safety standard protocols.

(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN)

DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said that they would issue a reiteration memorandum to remind LGUs to continune mposing the penalties, saying there is a need to strictly implement the order amid the confirmation of the presence of two new strains of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in the country.

"The emphasis there, is this is the only way to prevent the spread of the virus regardless of the variant," said Densing.

Through an ordinance, Densing noted that the LGUs can enforce sanctions such as imprisonment of up to five days, fine and community service.

"I may be suggesting those who violate may serve as what we call marshals in certain public areas in their locality to tell people to practice minimum public health protocols," Densing said.

The DILG official stressed the urgency to reiterate its call to penalize violators of quarantine protocols as many people had become "complacent." The government has decided to open up the economy to ease the financial burden of the public with the removal of travel authority and local health certificate requirements for across the border travel. As a general rule, the DILG emphasized that travel authority from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local health certificates are no longer required for domestic travel.

Densing noted that the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) wants the DILG to issue a memorandum circular (MC) for uniformity in domestic travel regulations.

Since some LGUs require antigen testing for arriving visitors, Densing said that two governors agreed to have it included in their respective executive orders (EO).

If the antigen result turns positive, Densing noted that it was agreed that the concerned traveler will be under quarantine for 24 hours after the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing. If the result does not come out within 24 hours, the traveler may be allowed to enter the destination where they will be closely monitored by the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT).

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