A DAVAO City councilor is pushing to penalize heftily violators breaking the city's Covid-19 regulation on mass gatherings, following continuous violations despite an existing policy.
Councilor Mabel Sunga Acosta said in her privilege speech that she is working on an ordinance to strictly implement the established guidelines for the regulation of mass gathering while the pandemic is still ongoing.
Her proposed ordinance was prompted right after a meeting with the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force after it received various violations on mass gathering, despite the existence of Executive Order (EO) No. 57.
EO 57 is an order regulating mass gatherings in the city, which was extended until June 30, 2020, through EO 69. It provides detailed provisions on the regulation of mass gatherings.
Mass gathering, as defined by the EO, is a gathering of people for the same event or activity. To avoid mass gatherings, only 25 individuals will be allowed within the venue.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in the EO that there is a need to regulate mass gatherings in all public places to lower the risk of transmission, as "indoor, crowded, and inadequately ventilated spaces where infected person/s spend long periods with others, such as restaurants, choir practices, fitness classes, nightclubs, offices and or places of worship," can be vulnerable to the coronavirus transmission.
She said there are areas in the city where regulations against mass gatherings and established safety protocols are still not being followed.
During the meeting, Acosta revealed many beaches, resorts, and other leisure establishments allowed persons to enter even more than the number allowed by the Department of Tourism (DOT).
She said some establishments were also operating and offering their services to the public despite not having proper business permits or DOT certification.
Acosta also said there were many events celebrating "personal milestones" such as weddings and birthdays not complying with the city's established regulation that only 25 people, including organizers and suppliers, should be allowed to participate.
"Due to this, some events become hotbeds for the spread of the infection," she said.
Some barangays in the city were still conducting Zumba dances and other sports activities beyond the capacity allowed, defying the mandate for proper safety protocols.
"While individual sports and recreational activities are allowed under local and national IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases], the same must still be regulated for the health and safety of the participants," Acosta said.
The Covid-19 task force recommended the EO be passed as an ordinance to provide stricter guidelines and provide penalties against violators.
Health officials had constantly warned the public against mass gatherings, as these are highly vulnerable to Covid-19 transmission.
The Department of Health-Davao Region said in a virtual presser that the entire region is experiencing a “post-holiday” surge in Covid-19 cases, which was expected right after Christmas and New Year.
Davao City Covid-19 focal person Dr. Ashley Lopez said the “post-holiday” surge was expected because during the holidays, gatherings were expected despite a constant warning against it.
In Davao City, Lopez said the case surge is expected to last until mid-February this year.