By Jennifer P. Rendon
Pandemic fatigue and burnout?
One year into braving the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of Ilonggos were recently apprehended for “ignoring” safety measures.
In a data gathered by the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), police and local government authorities implementing Standard Health Protocols caught 3,484 persons who failed to wear a face mask and/or face shield and failed to observe safe distancing in Iloilo City.
Colonel Uldarico Garbanzos, Iloilo City police chief, said they issued citation tickets or cautioned these individuals from 12 am of March 14 until 11:59 pm of March 20.
Topping the list of violators are those who failed to wear face masks.
Garbanzos said 598 persons were fined while 767 were given a warning.
“Usually, we only give warning if there are persons who fail to properly wear their masks or forget to wear one but have it with them,” he said.
But citation tickets were issued to those who had no mask in their possession.
On top of that, not all police patrollers have citation tickets that could be used to issue against violations.
Meanwhile, ICPO also recorded 12 persons who were fined for not wearing face shields while 814 were only cautioned.
Fifteen persons fined and 1,278 were warned for not observing physical distancing.
The move is in consonance with Regulation Ordinance No. 2020-095 amending Ordinance No. 2020-061, as amended by RO No. 2020-085 or the Face Mask Ordinance to include the mandatory wearing of face shields or eye protectors to include goggles, visor-type face shields and sunglasses in public places such as malls, churches, markets, offices, banks, public transport vehicles and stations, stores, commercial establishments and other areas where three or more people are gathered within close proximity to one another.
Exemptions include drivers while driving and workplace safety.
For the first offense, the violator would be fined P1,000; P2,000 for the second offense; and P5,000 for the third offense.
La Paz and Molo Police Stations recorded the most number of fined and warned violators.
La Paz PNP has not issued any citation ticket but has warned 221 individuals for not wearing face shields; 423 for not wearing face masks; and 337 for not observing social distancing.
In Molo, there were 150 warned for not wearing face shields; 386 for not wearing face masks; and 387 for not observing physical distancing.
In City Proper district, 53 were warned for not wearing face masks and 204 persons for not observing social distancing. Six persons were fined and 167 warned for not wearing face masks.
86 persons were warned for not wearing face shields and 139 for violating the social distancing rule in Jaro district. All 94 persons who were found not wearing masks in Jaro and one for violating the social distancing guidelines were fined.
In Mandurriao, 113 persons were warned and 12 were fined for not wearing face shields; 86 were warned and 61 were fined for not wearing face masks; and 96 were warned and 10 were fined in violation of the social distancing rule.
In Arevalo district, 191 were warned for not wearing face shields; 91 were warned and 51 were fined for not wearing face masks; and 115 were warned and 4 were fined because of physical distancing.
Garbanzos again reminded the public to strictly observe minimum health standards because Covid is still here.
“This is not the time for us to be complacent and lower our guards,” he said.
