Danao, Alegria orders wearing of facemasks

CEBU, Philippines — Wearing of facemasks is now mandatory in some local government units (LGU) in the Province of Cebu.

A couple of LGUs in the province have already approved respective ordinances requiring residents to wear masks in public as protection against COVID-19.

In Danao City, Ordinance No. 2020-16-008 was passed supporting Mayor Ramonito Durano’s Executive Order No. 24 Series of 2020 which requires both residents and visitors of the city to wear facemasks when outside an edifice.

This was reported in the official Danao City public information Facebook page yesterday. Due to the low supply of medical-grade facemasks, the public can use reusable and homemade masks as alternatives.

However frontline workers, those manifesting Influenza-Like Illnesses (ILIs) and those caring for the sick must wear surgical masks.

The Danao LGU has also required the wearing of N95 masks for those who are caring for ILI and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) patients, those who enter rooms with PUIs, those handling medical specimens or disposing of medical supplies and specimens and those entering places possibly contaminated by COVID-19.

Since the EO is backed by an ordinance, violators will be reprimanded on their first offense but will be fined P500 for the second offense and P1000 for the third offense.

"Ang mga dili motuman sa mga mandato sa maong ordinansa o bisan pa man person-in-charge siya apan misugot o mitugot sa kalapasan sa iyang mga sakop o siya napakyas sa pagtuman sa iyang mga katungdanan o obligasyon na nalatid sa ordinansa, manubag ug silotan gayud," read the LGU’s post.

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Alegria has also passed Ordinance No. 12 Series of 2020 which implements the "obligatory wearing of face masks in public areas."

The ordinance also requires the public to strictly follow social distancing in public areas in the municipality.   GAN (FREEMAN)