In a press release yesterday, January 5, 2022, Quezon City announced an ordinance implementing restrictions on the mobility of people not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 in Quezon City.
The press release states that the ordinance follows the MMDA resolution saying “unvaccinated persons may leave home only for essential reasons, such as work, food or medical services. They may not enter establishments for dine-in or other leisure reasons. Also, non-fully vaccinated workers must undergo a COVID-19 test every two weeks at their personal expense.”
It also declared that “the QC Council added a provision giving employers the option to provide a non-vaccinated worker a grace period of one month to obtain his/her first COVID-19 vaccination shot. As long as the worker obtains the first shot within the grace period, and subsequently obtains any required second shot as prescribed for the concerned vaccine, the worker shall not be required to take the bi-weekly test.”
The press release also stated that, “the City Council also added that a worker with a medical condition that prevents full COVID-19 vaccination may be exempted from biweekly COVID tests, provided that he or she submits a medical certification from a physician.”
Individuals and establishments with violations of the said Ordinance will be penalized accordingly.
For individual violators, PHP 500 for the first offense, PHP 1,000 for the second offense and PHP 3,000 for the third and subsequent offenses.
Establishments with a violation may be charged with PHP 3,000 for the first offense, PHP 5,000 and suspension of business permit for the second offense, and PHP 5,000 and cancellation of business permit for the third offense.
The press release also included the “Ordinance Prohibiting COVID-19 vaccine Fraud” or Ordinance SP 3032-2021, stating that falsification of COVID-19 vaccine card may be prosecuted.
While QC Mayor Joy Belmonte acknowledges the inconvenience of the Ordinance, she also expressed that national safety must be considered first.
“We recognize the inconvenience this Ordinance may place on some people,” she stated. “However, we must remember that lives are at stake. We all must support the national government’s urgent call for a vaccine mandate, especially given the new surge in cases. We appeal to those not yet vaccinated to get their shots as soon as they can. Also, we encourage those who have not yet gotten their booster shots to do the same.” DZUP