Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan has approved on ordinance shortening curfew hours in the city as the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) continues in Metro Manila due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pursuant to Ordinance No. 0876 authored by Councilors Enteng Malapitan and Rose Mercado and approved by other city councilors, the new curfew hours will be from 10: p.m. to 5 a.m. from the previous curfew hours of 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The ordinance explained that many workers have returned to work but are still limited by the lack of public transport, so many of the employees remain on the road for longer hours.
In addition, since the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases has also given a signal to open dine-in in restaurants but with limited capacity allowed, many customers are also subject to curfew hours, given the longer time in lining up.
The ordinance states that shortening the curfew hours is for the benefit of the residents in the city “and it’s only practical and reasonable.”
Mayor Malapitan explained that those under 21 years old, senior citizens and older persons who are not part of the essential workforce, and the sick and the pregnant should still stay in their homes.
“Despite the shortening of our curfew time, we continue to remind the public to follow health protocols such as maintaining social distancing, wearing a face mask and regularly washing of hands or using alcohol,” Mayor Oca said.
