Gov. Dennis Pineda personally receiving donations of face masks and PPEs. File photo from Pampanga PIO
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Gov. Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda ordered the mandatory use and wearing of face masks outside residences and in public places within the province of Pampanga as precautionary measure to combat the spread of Covid-19.
This came following the approval of Ordinance 756 by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pampanga directing all persons within the territorial jurisdiction of the province to “wear the prescribed face masks and observe physical distancing sufficient to reduce, if not prevent, the probability of transmission and mitigate contamination from points of source during the implementation of Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.”
Based on the ordinance, the face mask should be properly worn by covering the nose and the mouth and ensuring that there are no gaps between the face and the mask. This shall be done at all times and in all public places.
“Public and private establishments shall strictly prohibit the entry of persons who are not wearing face masks or their equivalents,” the ordinance stated.
Any violation of the provisions of the ordinance shall be prosecuted under Republic Act No. 11332, entitled “An Act Providing Policies and Prescribing Procedures on Surveillance and Response to Notifiable Disease, Epidemics and Health Events of Public Concerns.”
Those who violate will be penalized with a fine of not less than P20,000 but not more than P50,000 or imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than six months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the proper court.
As stated in Section 10 of RA No. 11332, the Professional Regulation Commission shall have the authority to suspend or revoke the license to practice of any medical professional for any violation of this Act.
The Civil Service Commission shall have the authority to suspend or revoke the civil service eligibility of a public servant who is in violation of this Act.
If the offense is committed by a public or private health facility, institution, agency, corporation, school, or other juridical entity duly organized in accordance with law, the chief executive officer, president, general manager, or such other officer in charge shall be held liable.
In addition, the business permit and license to operate of the concerned facility, institution, agency, corporation, school, or legal entity shall be cancelled.
The Philippine National Police is mandated to enforce the full extent of the ordinance as well as barangay officials, and other force multipliers.
The ordinance shall have full force and effect until such time there is a declaration by the Department of Health that the threat of Covid-19 no longer exists.
Prior to this, on March 16, this year, the provincial board issued Resolution No. 6102, series of 2020 declaring the entire province under a state of calamity in order to address, contain and prevent the spread of Covid-19 and its ill effects and impact on the people and enacted Ordinance No. 755, series of 2020 providing measures and regulations in public health emergencies.
As of April 20, the Pampanga Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit has reported 60 confirmed cases with 8 deaths, 38 admitted, 14 discharged; 385 suspects with 25 deaths, 125 admitted, 13 discharged, 108 onhome quarantine, 114 completed home quarantine, and 142 tested negative.
