THE coronavirus disease (Covid-19) Regional Task Force has urged all local government units (LGUs) to create their own curfew ordinance to minimize the number of people in public places in an effort to limit the spread of the disease.
Based on the Resolution 2, Series of 2020, which was approved on March 17, all the LGUs in Davao Region, security and law enforcement authorities and all concerned government and private sector entities and the general public are advised on the new policy in the wake of the pandemic.
"The local chief executives of the Davao Region, acting in unity with the National Government, in order to preserve and protect the lives and health of their constituents, do hereby declare and promulgate, acting as one body in the Region of Davao, strongly recommend to all Local Legislative Councils of Davao Region to issue ordinances for curfew," the resolution read.
The officials and key principal members of the Regional Development Council (RDC) Davao and the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) Davao through a Joint RDC Davao-RPOC Davao created a Regional Task Force Covid-19 to lead the implementation of the containment and mitigation measures of Covid-19 in Davao Region.
The government has been strengthening its measures in the implementation of social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. The task force has earlier placed the region under community quarantine to limit the movement of people who are entering here.
The daily curfew shall be imposed between 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
However, the Covid-19 Task Force has likewise indicated a few exemptions.
The movements of all persons outside curfew hours shall be limited to accessing basic necessities; buying food or medicines and access to essential health service or taking out the garbage and other essential activities such as medical and humanitarian reasons.
Exempted from the curfew are the employees of establishments providing basic necessities and such activities related to health services, food, and medicine production, i.e., public markets, supermarkets, groceries, convenience stores, hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies, and drug stores.
Also exempted are those working in food preparation and delivery services, water refilling stations, manufacturing and processing plants of basic food products and medicines, banks, money transfer services, power, energy, water and telecommunications supplies, and government accredited facilities; media personnel; persons transiting to and from work, provided they shall present necessary identification and certificate of employment.
Authorized government officials and personnel of law enforcement agencies are exempted from the curfew hours, as well as persons officially assisting in the fight against Covid-19.
"An LGU with an existing ordinance on curfew shall continue to implement the same in accordance with the provisions set forth in their local ordinance," the resolution added.
