Proper Wearing of Face Mask & Shield Required, Indiscriminate Disposal of Used PPE Prohibited in Baguio
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong has signed Ordinance No. 27, 2021, amending sections of Ordinance No. 45, Series of 2020. Ordinance No. 27 is also known as “The Baguio Face Mask and Face Shield Ordinance of 2021, and the Regulation of Indiscriminate Disposal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the City of Baguio.”
The ordinance mandates the proper wearing of face masks and face shields when going to public places in Baguio City and prescribing the manner of disposal of used or damaged face masks and face shields and will take effect on March 17, 2021 (Wednesday).
Proper Wearing of Face Mask and Face Shield
It was stated in the ordinance regarding the mandatory use of wearing of face mask and face shield in the city that one shall properly wear a face mask and a face shield when venturing outside their abode or going to public buildings and places until the threat of the coronavirus is completely eliminated in the country or during the State of Public Health Emergency.
Public Utility Vehicle
- For Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs), the ordinance adopts Memorandum Circular No. 2020-014, Mandatory Wearing of Face Shields for Passengers Using Public Transportation, issued by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04 [DTI and DOLE Supplemental Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19] issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) which requires the “No Face Shield, No Ride” policy.
Transaction of Business
- The ordinance prohibits the transaction of business with any person not wearing a face mask and a face shield in the following:
- public markets
- supermarkets
- groceries
- malls
- shopping centers
- government offices within the City of Baguio
In addition, for employees, workers, or personnel within these establishments and office, they may momentarily remove their face shields where the conduct of their work does not involve face to face/person to person interaction with clients, customers, visitors, or co-employees and provided that social or physical distancing is observed and/or the presence of a plastic barrier in between the transacting parties.
Also, the ordinance notes Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04 of DTI and DOLE which requires the wearing of a face shield in all private establishments including banks.
Exception
- Children below two (2) years old
- Person with disabilities (PWDs) and by reason of their disabilities would make the wearing of face mask and/or face shield hazardous or impede their physical and sensory functioning
- Patients as advised by their physicians especially those having trouble breathing
- While engaged in some intensity activities like brisk walking, jogging, running, zumba, and other forms of physical exercises
- In some reasonable and justified instances, the worn face mask and face shield could be temporarily set aside or removed, in these instances:
- when eating and/or drinking in public places
- when walking or standing all alone
- with your very intimate close contact in an open environment
- in a room with a proper ventilation
- In the case in the City of Baguio, there is a standing agreement between the Baguio City Police Office-Traffic Management Division with that of the PUV drivers that what is only mandatory for them while driving is the use of face masks without face shields as it may impede their vision or blur their line of sight causing accidents.
- For private vehicle drivers shall be covered by this agreement and even cyclists while riding their bicycles are exempted from wearing face shields
Disposal of Used / Damaged Face Masks and Face Shields
- The ordinance prohibits the indiscriminate disposal of used/damaged face masks, face shields, gloves, and tissues, or any fabric used in cleaning face shields.
- To reduce the transmission of the virus during solid waste collection, disinfection should be done before disposal of used face masks, face shields, and hand gloves.
- Disinfection can be done by soaking the face mask and/or face shield for 10 minutes in a strong solution using one part (part can be of any unit of measure, e.g. liter ounce, cup, tablespoon, teaspoon) household bleach mixed with nine parts clean water.
- After disinfection, the item/s shall be placed in a plastic container, preferably transparent and separated from other wastes and labeled as “Used Face Mask/s” or “Used Face Shield/s” as the case may be.
- The plastic container must be sealed.
Hoarding, Profiteering, and Manipulating the Prices of Face Masks and Face Shields
- Hoarding, profiteering, or manipulating the prices of face masks/face shields being sold to the general public is prohibited under the ordinance.
Penalties
The penalty provision as stipulated under Ordinance No. 45, as regards the mandatory use of face mask will still be carried. For the penalties for the non-wearing of face shield where it should be worn and the indiscriminate disposal of used or damaged face masks and face shield are the following:
-
First Offense: PHP 500.00
-
Second Offense: PHP 1,000.00
-
Third Offense: PHP 2,000.00 and cancellation of business permit if applicable.
Minor Violator
And, if the person violating the ordinance is a minor, the parent or guardian accompanying the said minor shall be assessed the corresponding fine and/or penalty in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations.
Ordinance No. 27, Series of 2021
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Source: Sangguniang Panlungsod Baguio