DABAWENYOS caught not wearing face masks in indoor spaces will still be penalized by the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).
“Kung naa ka sa enclosed area, mandatory gihapon ang pag-wear og face mask, so atoang enforcement ani naga-conduct gihapon ta og mga patrolling. Kung naa tay makit-an nga naga-violate niana nga mandat, dakpon gihapon nato (If you’re inside an enclosed area, you have to wear a face mask. Our team is still patrolling and once they catch you violating this, you will be apprehended),” Police Major Catherine Dela Rey, DCPO Spokesperson, said in an interview with SunStar Davao on October 19, 2022.
Earlier, City Councilor Luna Acosta amended the City Ordinance 0307-20, series of 2020 that requiring the mandatory wearing of face masks at all times in public places since she said it has become inconsistent with the Presidential Executive Order (EO) No.3, which allows the wearing of a face mask in open spaces and non-crowded outdoor areas.
Under the amended ordinance, Dabawenyos are still required to wear a face mask if they are in crowded places whether indoor, outdoor, moving, or stationary where five or more persons cannot maintain physical distance of at least one meter apart.
“Sa atong bag-ong mandate man gud, sa guideline na gihatag, optional na ang pag-wear og face mask basta basta spaces, pero nakabutang man sa gud didto nga kung dili nato ma-maintain ang minimum health standard like katong social distancing mandatory nga mag-wear og face mask (In our new mandate, according to the new guidelines, although we allow optional wearing of face mask in open spaces, it was clearly indicated that if we can’t maintain the minimum health standard like social distancing we have wear a face mask),” Dela Rey said.
Meanwhile, Dela Rey said that all apprehended violators of wearing face masks before the effectivity of the amendments and EO 3, will still face the charges filed and have to pay the penalty.
As of October 15, 2022, DCPO already issued citations to 13,399 violators where 4,997 have paid the penalty while 8,402 failed to pay their obligation. Among these violators who have failed to pay, 4,951 have faced charges through regular filing while 3,451 individuals have faced charges for regular filing and verification. KSD