‘Only half of LGUs passed health protocol ordinances’ protocols in 756 LGUs – DILG

MANILA, Philippines — Only 878 of the 1,634 local government units (LGUs) in the country have passed ordinances on minimum health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The DILG said the figure represents 53.73 percent of LGUs imposing health and safety standards.

DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing said 278 of the LGUS with ordinances do not have penalty provisions.

Densing said some LGUs have ordinances with corresponding penalties, but do not strictly impose these directives.

He said LGUs should pass laws to ensure compliance with minimum health standards to arrest a surge of infections.

Densing said these LGUs could have overlooked a DILG memorandum circular issued last July mandating the approval of local laws against quarantine violators.

Densing lamented that some LGUs have become complacent following the arrival and rollout of the vaccination program.

Meanwhile, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said LGUs have the final say on whether to reopen to tourists amid a spike in COVID-19 cases.

“Under MGCQ (modified general community quarantine), tourism is allowed to open, but whether to open up or not it’s up to LGUs, with the exception of Boracay,” Puyat said in a hybrid press conference in Antipolo, Rizal, where she attended  the reopening of tourist sites.

“The only thing we ask the LGUs is to implement minimum health and safety protocols. All the other protocols in addition will be up to the LGUs,” Puyat said.

She had earlier called on LGUs under MGCQ, the most lenient quarantine status, to accept visitors.

Puyat said it is also up to the LGUs whether to require tourists to submit a negative swab test result. – Catherine Talavera