CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno on Tuesday, March 31, said he will approve the anti-loitering ordinance which will penalize people caught loitering in the city during health emergencies.
The ordinance, which was approved on Monday by the City Council, will penalize those who will be caught loitering, playing, standing by without important purpose in the city, including the curfew violators, 24/7 during the present coronavirus disease (Covid-19) threat.
The penalty includes two to eight hours of community service which will be done post-Covid-19 threat.
“Kana community service man wala siguro’y problema. I’ll allow it to lapse into an ordinance,” Moreno said.
(I think there’s no problem with the community service sanction. I’ll allow it to lapse into an ordinance.)
However, Moreno added that while this ordinance helps people to stay in their homes, it is better to teach them discipline and fear the virus rather than the penalty.
“Ang tuyo sa penalty is para nga mahadlok sila mosupak sa balaod. Ok sab na pero I would rather na mahadlok sila, mobalaka sila matakdan kaysa mabalaka sila nga ma-penalize. Dapat ang kahadlok nga matakdan maoy mangibabaw sa ilang huna-huna. Mabalaka sila nga matakdan mao na nga puyo sila sa balay,” Moreno said.
(The purpose of the penalty is for them to follow the law. It’s okay also but I would rather prefer for them to be scared and worried about being infected than worrying about being penalized. The fear to become infected by the virus should prevail in their mind. If they are scared to be infected, they should stay home.)
The ordinance, authored by City Councilor Teudolfo Lao, is in response to any and all declaration of the national leadership as regards to health emergency due to epidemic or pandemic.
Lao said the ordinance is to deter those people going outside their houses just to roam around the city without purpose.
“It might give hazard to their health. Ayaw natin na magkasakit sila. Pero kung magmatigas sila, yan may penalty,” Lao said.
The ordinance will cover all ages, including minors and adults.