To reinforce the implementation of the 14-day lockdown in Navotas, the city government has passed ordinances imposing stricter quarantine rules.
Navotas was placed under citywide lockdown at 5 a.m. on July 16 until July 29, 11:59PM.
City Ordinance No. 2020-31 requires that aside from wearing face masks and practicing up to 2-meter physical distancing, all persons in Navotas must comply with other quarantine measures imposed by the city government to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
It further states that any unauthorized person outsides their homes will be meted out fines ranging from P1,000 to P3,000.
City Ordinance No. 2020-32, on the other hand, amended the penalties of City Ordinance No. 2020-30 or the Interim Guidelines for Business Establishments allowed to operate in the city during the community quarantine.
Establishments will face sanctions if they fail to comply with safety measures such as COVID-19 screening for employees, implementation of social distancing, reduced number of people allowed in the workplace, and others.
Violators will be slapped with P2,000 to P5,000 fines with summary suspension of the establishment’s sanitary permit and summary closure of the establishment for 7-14 days.
Meanwhile, City Ordinance No. 2020-33 imposes a 24-hour curfew on residents below 18 years old while Navotas is under community quarantine or in any form of lockdown required by the national or local government.
Minors who will enroll to school while accompanied by their parent or guardian and those who need to travel for medical purposes are exempted from the curfew.
Parents or guardians who will let their children roam the streets or play or loiter outside their home will be fined P1,000 or P2,000 for the first or second offense. P3,000 or imprisonment and P4,000 or imprisonment will be levied on third, fourth and succeeding offenses.
“Many of our constituents thought that because of eased restrictions during the general community quarantine, they can be lax about practicing safety measures. We need to remind them that the deadly virus is still here, and it continues to endanger our lives and those of our loved ones,” Mayor Toby Tiangco said.
“These ordinances form part of our defense strategy to keep our people safe from COVID-19. With the continued rise of cases, crowded facilities, depleting resources, and exhausted health care providers, we need to take drastic actions,” he added.
The City Health Office reported Tuesday that Navotas has 1,074 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 661 of which are active.