THE Davao City Covid-19 Task Force said more City Government personnel will be given the authority to apprehend violators of the Covid-19 protocols.
Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of Davao City Covid-19 Task Force, said during a radio interview on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, that some personnel from the response cluster team such as the City Health Office, City Tourism Office, and the City Transport and Traffic Management Office will be trained how to issue citation tickets for violators.
“(The response cluster team) would want to be able to help through deputizing people na makatabang sa pagpanakop sa mo-violate sa atong minimum public health standards (who will assist in apprehending violators of the minimum public health standards),” said Schlosser.
Schlosser said the response cluster team will be trained by the Safety and Security cluster of the City Government, but as of date, training has been postponed since it requires a face-to-face session.
“Mag-write pa og letter sa atong mayor para ma-allow ang face-to-face training,” said Schlosser.
(We will submit a letter to the mayor requesting approval for the face-to-face training.)
This unified effort aims to assist the police force in strongly implementing the minimum public health standards (MPHS), as well as to apprehend violators when necessary.
The spokesperson added that the response cluster team will be identified as authorities on the job.
“Karon if we will deputize these people na members sa atong response cluster, ma-surprise gyod ang mga tao that a civilian maka-issue na og citation ticket,” said Schlosser, addressing that there had been an increase in people violating the MPHS when the police are not around.
(If we deputize the response cluster team now, the public will be surprised to know that a civilian can issue a citation ticket.)
Schlosser also said the response cluster team has the authority to apprehend violators within their own communities such as in their neighborhoods or barangays, not just in public spaces.
Persistent violators of the Covid-19 protocols may be penalized based on the Republic Act No. 11332 or the Act Providing Policies and Prescribing Procedures on Surveillance and Response to Notifiable Diseases, Epidemics, and Health Events of Public Health Concern.
“Kon persistent ka na violator (If you are a persistent violator), you are putting the community at risk and you will be penalized not just locally, but nationally,” said Schosser.