IMPLEMENTING PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST THE THREAT OF THE COVID-19 OMICRON (B.1.1.529) VARIANT
WHEREAS, Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, provide that Local Government Units within their territorial jurisdiction shall promote health and safety of the people;
WHEREAS, due to the nationwide spread of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19), the Philippines is declared to be under State of Public Health Emergency and State of Calamity by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte;
WHEREAS, the first local cases of the Covid-19 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant were detected sometime in December, 2021 by the Department of Health, the University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center, and the University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health;
WHEREAS, the DOH observed a surge in Covid-19 cases, from 1,596 cases recorded from December 9, 2021 to December 15, 2021, to 13,814 cases logged from December 30, 2021 to January 5, 2022;
WHEREAS, while the national IATF-EID has retained the classification of the Province of Pangasinan under Alert Level 2, the National Capital Region and the Provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal were placed under the stricter Alert Level 3 until January 15, 2022, in view of the increase in Covid-19 cases in their respective territorial jurisdictions;
WHEREAS, it is necessary to pre-emptively escalate measures in Pangasinan against the threat of the Omicron variant, which is already causing surges in many countries around the world;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, AMADO I. ESPINO III, Governor of the Province of Pangasinan, by the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the following:
SECTION 1. CURFEW. A province-wide curfew shall be observed from 9 o’clock in the evening to 4 o’clock in the morning. Violations thereof shall be subject to prosecution under existing provincial and local ordinances.
SECTION 2. REGULATED MOVEMENT FOR PERSONS NOT FULLY VACCINATED.
A. Unvaccinated individuals or individuals with incomplete vaccinations are strongly advised to stay at home except for emergency or humanitarian reasons.
B. Unvaccinated individuals, especially children below twelve (12) years old shall not be allowed entry to enclosed establishments, including but not limited to malls, supermarkets, and restaurants.
SECTION 3. REGULATING THE CONDUCT OF MASS GATHERING ACTIVITIES.
A. In accordance with Provincial Resolution No. 314-2020, component LGUs are highly discouraged from conducting or from continuing to conduct events that tend to cause mass gathering, such as but not limited to fiesta celebrations, activities of the Sangguniang Kabataan, community dances, and basketball tournaments.
B. Peryahan, funfairs, and cockfighting/sabungan are to strictly observe their respective operational capacity under the existing Alert Level 2 guidelines, particularly: a maximum of fifty percent (50%) indoor capacity, and a maximum of seventy percent (70%) outdoor capacity.
C. In any case, mass gathering activities should avoid catering to those with comorbidities and pregnant women, and those unvaccinated persons especially children below twelve (12) years old.
SECTION 4. GRANULAR LOCKDOWN. Component LGUs are hereby reminded to impose granular lockdowns based on the parameters and clustering of cases, as stated in Executive Order No. 178-2021 and the Guidelines on the Nationwide Implementation of Alert Level System for Covid-19 Response.
SECTION 5. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
A. Public transport operators in Pangasinan are directed to observe seventy percent (70%) maximum passenger capacity pursuant to LTFRB Memo. Circular No. 2021-076 and Memo. Circular No. 2021-080.
B. Emphasis is made on the strict implementation of minimum public health standards of passengers, drivers, and conductors in public transportation vehicles, such as but not limited to:
i. Wearing of face masks at all times;
ii. No unnecessary talking and making of phone calls;
iii. No eating while in transit;
iv. Keeping PUVs well-ventilated;
v. Conduct of frequent disinfection;
vi. No passengers with Covid-19 symptoms are to be allowed inside any public transportation vehicle;
vii. Observance of appropriate physical distancing.
SECTION 6. RESTRICTIONS ON TRAVEL TO AND FROM METRO MANILA AND AREAS UNDER ALERT LEVEL 3.
A. To complement the prohibition on domestic travel of unvaccinated individuals outside Metro Manila as imposed by the MMDA, unvaccinated individuals from Metro Manila shall not be allowed entry to the borders of Pangasinan except for emergency and humanitarian reasons.
B. Violation of the preceding paragraph shall be prosecuted in accordance with Sections 9(d) and (e) in relation to Section 10 of the R.A. No. 11332.
C. Presentation of valid ID and vaccination card shall be required at the borders.
D. The component LGU of destination may also impose additional requirements on the entry of travelers originating or passing through areas under Alert Level 3, including Bulacan, Cavite and Rizal provinces.
SECTION 7. VACCINATION DRIVES. Component LGUs are hereby encouraged to maintain national vaccination efforts by conducting small-scale vaccination drives in barangays. The conduct of information campaigns regarding the vaccines are likewise encouraged.
SECTION 8. ISOLATION FACILITIES. Component LGUs are hereby urged to reactivate their respective isolation facilities, in anticipation of any potential Covid-19 surge in their localities.
SECTION 9. FALSIFICATION OF VACCINATION CARDS. Presenting fraudulent or falsified vaccination cards whenever required shall be prosecuted under the Revised Penal Code, as amended, pursuant to Section 12 of R.A. No. 11525 or the Covid-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021, without prejudice to pertinent local ordinances.
SECTION 10. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. Should any provision of this Order be declared by a court of competent authority as invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not adversely affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 11. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. This Order shall take effect immediately until the national IATF-EID shifts the classification of NCR and the Provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, and Rizal from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2 or lower, or unless subsequently amended/revoked/revised.
All orders, rules, regulations, promulgations, circulars, and/or issuances by the IATF and/or concerned national government offices/agencies are hereby adopted. All previous issuances of the undersigned and/or by component LGUs, which are not in contravention of the IATF Resolutions and/or its member agencies shall be made applicable in a suppletory manner.
Done this 5th day of January 2022 in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
AMADO I. ESPINO III
