ILOILO City – To ensure that health safety protocols against the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are followed such as the wearing of facemask and physical distancing, among others, Mayor Jerry Treñas has deployed over 200 “compliance officers” across the metro.
These officers took their oath before the city mayor yesterday morning at the Iloilo City Freedom Grandstand.
“They will be going around the city. Ang instruction to them is not to sow fear or threaten people or businesses but to appeal for everyone’s cooperation,” said Treñas.
The compliance officers came from various city hall bodies which temporarily could not function due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These were the following:
* Boarding House Commission
* Task Force on Internet, Online Service Gaming Center, Anti-Piracy and Pornography
* Sports Development Office
* Task Force on Morals and Values Formation
* Task Force on Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structures
* Business Permits and Licensing Office
* Barangay Affairs Office
* Green Guards
Aside from establishments and public places, their areas of coverage also include seaports (Parola wharf, Fort San Pedro Wharf, Ortiz wharf, Iloilo City Commercial Port Complex, Iloilo-Bacolod Terminal, roll on, roll off wharf) and land transport terminals (Mohon terminal in Arevalo; Hibao-an and Megworld terminals in Mandurriao; Ungka, Tagbak and Ceres terminals in Jaro; and Ticud and Baldoza terminals in La Paz).
According to Treñas, compliance officers must show courtesy at all times, but seek the assistance of police officers if necessary to enforce laws and ordinances relative to COVID-19.
Aside from ensuring that people wear facemask in public and observe physical distancing (at least one meter apart), they must also make sure public transport passengers and drivers observe the “no mask, no ride policy”.
Regulation Ordinance No. 2020-066 makes mandatory physical distancing. Erring establishments face a fine of P5,000 for the first offense and revocation of business permit and closure for the next violation.
For individual offenders, they will be fined P500 for every violation of the ordinance.
Regulation Ordinance No. 2020-061, on the other hand, makes mandatory the wearing of facemask or face covering in public during pandemics.
A fine of P500 is imposed for every violation of the ordinance./PN