Mayor Isko announces 8 pm to 5 am curfew in Manila
Published Mar 15, 2020 12:00 am
By Minka Klaudia Tiangco
An 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew will be implemented in the Philippine capital in a bid to inhibit the spread of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), Manila City Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso announced.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso
(Manila City Public Information Office / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) A city ordinance mandating the curfew will be published in newspapers of general circulation on Monday, March 16, and will take effect three days after, according to Cesar Chavez, the city mayor's chief-of-staff. This means curfew in Manila will start at 8 p.m. on March 19. This is in line with the recommendation of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) to set a curfew during the 30-day community quarantine in the National Capital Region (NCR). In a live broadcast on Facebook on Sunday, the local chief executive said he already signed the city ordinance ordering the implementation of the curfew hours. Domagoso said the nine-hour curfew will promote social distancing within the public and will lower the risk of mass infection in the city. "During curfew hours, no person shall be allowed in the streets, commercial establishments, recreation centers, malls, or any other areas outside the immediate vicinity of their residence," the ordinance read. However, the city mayor said those who will go out due to emergencies or to purchase food, basic necessities, and/or prime commodities are exempted from the ordinance. Employees who work within the curfew hours will also be exempted, provided that they present IDs or other proof of employment, he added. "Kailangan niyong patunayan sa mga tagapag-patupad ng batas kung baket sa kalagitnaan, o habang may curfew sa Maynila, ay kayo ay nasa kalsada, nasa kalye, dahil kayo'y empleyado o dahil sa inyong trabaho (You need to prove to authorities that you are out in the streets in Manila in the middle of curfew hours because you are an employee or because of your work)," he said. Barangay officials will be mobilized to implement this law, with the support of the police, the local chief executive said. "The punong barangays, members of the barangay council, and the duly designated barangay tanods are hereby authorized to implement the provision of the ordinance," the ordinance read. "The role of the Philippine National Police shall provide police support to the punong barangays whenever needed for the enforcement of this Act," it added. Those who will be caught violating the curfew hours will have to pay a P5,000-penalty and/or be imprisoned for no longer than a month, Domagoso said. The city mayor also said that the curfew hours will be repealed once President Duterte lifts the state of public health emergency in the country. Earlier, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar clarified said government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila will have to craft their own ordinances, with the recommendation of the MMC, before a curfew will be implemented. President Duterte placed Metro Manila under community quarantine from March 15 to April 14 after announcing the raising of the country's COVID-19 alert system to Code Red Sublevel 2. The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has risen to 111 as of Saturday, according to the Department of Health. There have also been eight COVID-19-related fatalities in the country.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso(Manila City Public Information Office / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) A city ordinance mandating the curfew will be published in newspapers of general circulation on Monday, March 16, and will take effect three days after, according to Cesar Chavez, the city mayor's chief-of-staff. This means curfew in Manila will start at 8 p.m. on March 19. This is in line with the recommendation of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) to set a curfew during the 30-day community quarantine in the National Capital Region (NCR). In a live broadcast on Facebook on Sunday, the local chief executive said he already signed the city ordinance ordering the implementation of the curfew hours. Domagoso said the nine-hour curfew will promote social distancing within the public and will lower the risk of mass infection in the city. "During curfew hours, no person shall be allowed in the streets, commercial establishments, recreation centers, malls, or any other areas outside the immediate vicinity of their residence," the ordinance read. However, the city mayor said those who will go out due to emergencies or to purchase food, basic necessities, and/or prime commodities are exempted from the ordinance. Employees who work within the curfew hours will also be exempted, provided that they present IDs or other proof of employment, he added. "Kailangan niyong patunayan sa mga tagapag-patupad ng batas kung baket sa kalagitnaan, o habang may curfew sa Maynila, ay kayo ay nasa kalsada, nasa kalye, dahil kayo'y empleyado o dahil sa inyong trabaho (You need to prove to authorities that you are out in the streets in Manila in the middle of curfew hours because you are an employee or because of your work)," he said. Barangay officials will be mobilized to implement this law, with the support of the police, the local chief executive said. "The punong barangays, members of the barangay council, and the duly designated barangay tanods are hereby authorized to implement the provision of the ordinance," the ordinance read. "The role of the Philippine National Police shall provide police support to the punong barangays whenever needed for the enforcement of this Act," it added. Those who will be caught violating the curfew hours will have to pay a P5,000-penalty and/or be imprisoned for no longer than a month, Domagoso said. The city mayor also said that the curfew hours will be repealed once President Duterte lifts the state of public health emergency in the country. Earlier, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar clarified said government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila will have to craft their own ordinances, with the recommendation of the MMC, before a curfew will be implemented. President Duterte placed Metro Manila under community quarantine from March 15 to April 14 after announcing the raising of the country's COVID-19 alert system to Code Red Sublevel 2. The number of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has risen to 111 as of Saturday, according to the Department of Health. There have also been eight COVID-19-related fatalities in the country.