BY GLENDA TAYONA and IME SORNITO
ILOILO City – Wearing facemask is now mandatory in this city and Iloilo province – an added precautionary measure as Ilonggos battle to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It complements other “response mechanisms” to the COVID-19 pandemic such as the enhanced community quarantine, social distancing and proper hygiene, according to Mayor Jerry Treñas in Executive Order (EO) No. 60 issued yesterday.
In Iloilo province, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed an ordinance “requiring the use of facemask in all public places during the enhanced community quarantine.”
The quarantine both in this city and Iloilo province will end on April 14.
According to Treñas, facemask covering the nose and mouth of the wearer prevents droplets expelled when coughing or sneezing from infecting others.
The facemask could be but not necessarily limited to cloth masks, surgical masks and other similar forms, he added.
Violators of the facemask EO “shall be required to go home or to secure a face mask.”
They may also be slapped with sanctions such as but not limited to reprimand and/or the filing of appropriate charges pursuant to Republic Act 11332 (Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act) and other applicable laws.
Treñas ordered barangay captains to enforce the facemask EO.
“Appropriate disciplinary measures and possible charges may be filed against those who fail or refuse to comply with the directives mentioned herein,” stressed Treñas in a memorandum issued to barangay captains.
Across the Iloilo Strait, the provincial government of Guimaras also made mandatory the wearing of facemask beginning yesterday.
In Iloilo province, the facemask ordinance was approved on March 31.
Proponent Provincial Board member June Mondejar said wearing a mask is the most sensible thing to do because some people could be COVID-19 virus carriers already but not showing symptoms, hence hard to detect and avoided.
“Indi kita kabalo kon sin-o may ara virus, kundi i-presume ta na lang nga may ara para tanan mag-facemask,” he told Panay News.
Mondejar cited Western Visayas’ 18th COVID-19 case – a 51-year-old househelp infected by her employer (a 59-year-old male and the region’s Patient No. 2).
The househelp was not showing COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, tiredness, diarrhea, difficulty breathing), said Mondejar.
Under the facemask ordinance, violators face the following sanctions:
* first offense – reprimand
* second offense – a fine of P1,000 or imprisonment for three days, or both at the discretion of the court
* third and succeeding offenses – a fine of P2,000 or imprisonment for 10 days, or both at the discretion of the court
“People are strongly encouraged to practice social distancing and use facemasks, especially those who are considered at high risk (because) one way of spreading COVID-19 is through sneezing, coughing and spitting,” read part of the provincial ordinance.
However, in Section 8 of the ordinance, a violator “may offer to compromise by paying the administrative fine.”
A compromise, however, shall only apply to the first and second offenses; “for this purpose, the fines prescribed…for the first and second offenses shall be treated as administrative fines.”
In paying the administrative fine, the violator should transact with the Office of the Treasurer of the city/municipality where the violation happened. Upon receipt of the payment, the treasurer’s office shall issue the corresponding official receipt.
If the violator fails or refuse to pay the administrative fine, appropriate charges shall be filed in court.
Barangay officials and policemen are tasked to enforce the facemask ordinance.
Interestingly, just this March 30at a media briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, World Health Organization (WHO) officials said they still recommend people not wear face masks unless they are sick with COVID-19 or caring for someone who is sick.
“There is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any potential benefit. In fact, there’s some evidence to suggest the opposite in the misuse of wearing a mask properly or fitting it properly,” Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergencies program, said.
“There also is the issue that we have a massive global shortage,” Ryan said about masks and other medical supplies. “Right now the people most at risk from this virus are frontline health workers who are exposed to the virus every second of every day. The thought of them not having masks is horrific.”
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, an infectious disease epidemiologist with the WHO, also said at Monday’s briefing that it is important “we prioritize the use of masks for those who need it most,” which would be frontline healthcare workers.
“In the community, we do not recommend the use of wearing masks unless you yourself are sick and as a measure to prevent onward spread from you if you are ill,” Van Kerkhove said.
“The masks that we recommend are for people who are at home and who are sick and for those individuals who are caring for those people who are home that are sick,” she said./PN
