Benguet Gov. Melchor Diclas has urged the 13 towns to craft ordinances strictly imposing the minimum health protocols and penalizing violators.
Diclas said the Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier called on municipalities to pass ordinances with penal provisions for those who do not follow the minimum health protocols.
“The health sector technical working group also recommended the need for an ordinance so that the policies would have teeth when we implement community quarantine,” Diclas said.
Only La Trinidad, Itogon, and Bokod have passed ordinances prescribing the minimum health standards with penalties for violators.
The national Inter-Agency Task Force earlier placed the province under modified enhanced community quarantine from May 10 to 23 due to the high cases and mortality rate in the province. The IATF later placed Benguet back to general community quarantine.
As of May 12, the province has a total of 8,061 confirmed cases with 7,329 total recoveries, 179 deaths and 553 active cases.
In his latest advisory, Diclas said wakes and funerals must be coordinated with the local government units concerned.
Wakes must be limited to four days including the burial day where the first day shall be limited to immediate family members only.
Religious gatherings shall be limited to 30 to 50 percent of the venue capacity and attendees must comply with the public health protocols.
Community pantries shall remain open while tourism sites are allowed to open subject to health protocols.
The movement of all types of cargo and delivery vehicles shall remain unhampered. – Ofelia C. Empian
