The Department of the Interior and Local Government told barangay officials who will implement the President’s directive to restrict the movement of unvaccinated individuals in their respective barangays will do so within the bounds of the law.
“The President is merely exercising his authority as chief executive while the Philippines is under a public health emergency. He was very clear in his directive that an arrest will only be a last resort. Pakiusapan muna na pumirmi sa bahay. Barangay officials may only arrest the unvaccinated individual who refuse to cooperate and who are leaving the homes for non-essential purposes,” said Sec. Eduardo M. Año.
He advised the public to bring their vaccination cards at all times and upon request show it to barangay officials and police officers as proof of vaccination.
Año said barangay officials are persons in authority and are duty bound to implement the President’s directive as well as the ordinances passed by their respective local government units.
DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said barangay officials will also be guided by the ordinances passed by their respective LGUs.
Malaya said unvaccinated individuals going to work must present a negative RT-PCR test result every two weeks otherwise they will not be allowed to leave their homes to go to work.
“We are doing this to protect the unvaccinated themselves because they are prone to critical illness and hospitalization and we need to protect our health care system from being overwhelmed with the exponential rise of cases because of the Omicron variant,” he said.
He clarified the unvaccinated need to stay at home except to procure essential goods and services such as food, water, medicine or medical devices, public utilities, work, and medical and dental visits.
Many business leaders, medical groups, and organizations have been pushing for the restrictions to be implemented nationwide amid the spike in infections and the threat of the Omicron Covid-19 variant. – Press release
April 19, 2024
