DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The 19th City Council passed the resolution and ordinance instituting the Davao City COVID-19 Emergency Response Policies on Tuesday (Mar. 24).
Proposed by the Committee on Peace and Public Safety, the City Council approved on suspended rules the ordinance instituting released Executive Orders (EO) of City Mayor Sara Duterte- Carpio until the existing community quarantine or the public health emergency is lifted.
In his letter to the City Council, Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte identified several EOs covered with institutionalization: EO No. 10 Series of 2020 or the Declaration of the entire Davao City under community quarantine; EO No. 12 Series of 2020 or the Declaration and order for the suspension of all international air travel to and from Davao City as well as the suspension of all domestic air travel to and from Davao City; EO No. 16-A Series of 2020 which requires all malls and commercial complex buildings to close all shopping stores beginning 11:59 PM of March 16, 2020, until after the state of public health emergency is lifted.
Also included is the EO No.15-A Series of 2020 which orders the closure of all internet shops, gaming stations, billiard halls, videokes, basketball courts, badminton courts, bowling alleys, fitness centers, tattoo shops, lotto outlets, kids’ playrooms, video arcades, spas, massage parlors, beauty salons/parlors, and carnivals beginning 5:00 PM of Thursday, March 19, 2020, until after the state of public health emergency is lifted.
Committee Chair Councilor Maria Belen Acosta also included to the resolution and ordinance the EO 20 Series of 2020 which provides the additional guidelines in the implementation of community quarantine beginning March 26, 2020, to April 19, 2020, unless further extended, modified or withdrawn; the Regional Task Force 11 Covid-19 Resolution No. 2 Series of 2020; and the EO NO.14 prohibiting the selling or serving of alcoholic beverages from 5:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
“There is an immediate need to contain the spread of COVID-19 through strict implementation of existing government guidelines and health and safety measures,” said Acosta during the regular session.
Meanwhile, in her radio interview, Mayor Sara said she’s already aware that the City Council adopts into law the EOs released by her office to give corresponding penalties to those who will not follow the guidelines while the city implements strict community quarantine.
“Our councilors had a regular session today to adopt my executive orders and make an ordinance to give penalties,” she said. (davaotoday.com)
