Davao City – With the strict enforcement of ordinances that penalize violators of COVID-19 protocols, the City Government of Davao is relentless in apprehending offenders of the health and safety regulations to minimize the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 in the city.
As of April 22, 2021, the Davao City government has recorded more than 47,000 violations of minimum health protocols since the implementation of community quarantine in the city last year.
Davao City’s Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) chief Retired Police Lt. Colonel Angel Sumagaysay said that the failure to wear face masks and the non-observance of social distancing topped the list of the most violated health measures, with 14,594 and 11,661 violations, respectively.
Sumagaysay added that 7,605 persons were apprehended for violating the curfew hours.
The non-compliance on wearing face shields netted 7,075 violators, while 857 offenders were reported for violation of the liquor ban.
Davao City authorities have also intercepted 80 individuals for presenting falsified RT-PCR test results, while 8 others were cited under the prohibition on billiards.
Meanwhile, the city government also logged 5,251 violations of pillion riding without barrier, with 1,584 cases filed.
Sumagaysay said that city will maintain its quarantine control points and law enforcement checkpoints despite the slowdown in the number of COVID-19 infections.
He further said that police presence will be heightened to ensure that the public adheres to the health protocols.
Currently, the city government has 57 quarantine control points in different areas such as checkpoints, the airport, and seaports and are manned by the Philippine National Police and elements of the Joint Task Force Shield.
Authorities have warned the public not to be complacent and practice minimum public health standards to avoid the spread of the virus. (City Information Office | Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao OIC)