Capitol to give free facemasks
INSTEAD OF PENALIZING VIOLATORS
On the way to removing fines against residents who fail to wear a mask in public, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced yesterday that Capitol will provide police stations in the province masks that cops can give protocol violators.
In a press conference streamed on Facebook, Garcia reminded the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) of its promise to donate masks worth P3 million to the province.
Garcia said these will be the masks Capitol will distribute to police stations.
She reiterated that the province will no longer fine those who will be caught without masks in public as this is reportedly anti-poor.
Several local government units in Cebu Province fine violators at least P300. Other LGUs fine violators P500.
These amounts, Garcia said, are already enough to put food on the table of families who can barely make ends meet, especially with the economic challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. She said it is better to give these violators masks, instead, and remind them of the minimum health protocols.
“Ingon ko, dili na nato i-impose kanang fine sa wala manul-ob og face mask. Ngano man? That is anti-poor. Antipoor gyud. Sumala kinsa man inyong makit-an nga nagbagtas sa dalan o kaha nagbisekleta unya masakpan nga wala magmask? Kadtong mga dili kaafford og palit og sakyanan nga air-conditioned, unya tinted pa gyud, di mo kahibalo nag mask ba to or wala,” she said.
Garcia said fining violators is not only “oppressive” but is also prone to corruption.
“Posible baya na. Unsa man gyuy sistema ani? Moissue ang Municipal Treasurer Office og resibo? Is there proper accounting sa aning fines? How would you know?” she said.
Garcia is set to issue a memorandum that will remove the fines officially.
CEBU CITY, LAPU-LAPU
Over the weekend, Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City said penalties against violators have been effective in their own battles against COVID-19, as these have been a deterrent to violating minimum health standards.
Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City are independent cities and are not under Cebu Province.
“So far, imposing penalties and fines for failure to wear face mask has been an effective deterrent against protocol violations as far as Cebu City is concerned,” said Councilor Joel Garganera, head of Cebu City's Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu Mayor Junard Chan said it would have been harder to enforce the minimum health protocols had the city not decided to impose fines against violators.
“Mas maayo nga naa gyuy penalty kay maglisud ta og impose og disiplina ana. Maglisud man gani ta og implement nga naay penalty, unsa na kaha og wala?”
MASK VS COVID-19
Recently, the Philippine College of Physicians – Central
Visayas Chapter reminded Cebuanos to wear masks properly as the region and the country continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sugbuanons! WEAR YOUR MASKS and WEAR THEM PROPERLY. (Penalty or no penalty). Be “responsible citizens” and help us intensify PROPER MASK WEARING CAMPAIGN. A Face Shield worn ALONE will NOT protect you and others against COVID-19. FACE MASK PLUS FACE SHIELD is Best!” reads the group's post on its Facebook page.
The Department of Health (DOH)-7 even recommended to use two masks, especially in public, with the discovery of new variants of the coronavirus this year.
With the coronavirus entering the body primarily through the nose and mouth, masks have been proven to help stop the contagion as they can protect people from getting infected, just as they can lessen the chance of those with the virus to infect others.
Based on the April 18, 2021 data of the Department of Health, Central Visayas still has a at least 4,395 active COVID-19 cases.
Of this number, 1,155 are from Cebu Province; 984 are from Cebu City; 833 are from Lapu-Lapu City; 579 are from Mandaue City; 607 are from Bohol; 210 are from Negros Oriental; and 27 are from Siquijor.