The Iloilo City Government deployed 200 compliance officers on Friday, May 29, to ensure all minimum health safety standards and requirements ordered by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) are properly observed.

The officers, composed of the city government’s regular employees and job hires, will check if safe physical distancing and proper wearing of face masks are observed in public places; as well as the provision of alcohol and sanitizers in malls, public utility vehicles, and in barangays to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19.

In his message, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas appealed to the officers not to abuse their power and to call for police assistance to apprehend offenders if needed.

He said that they have no authority to close establishments that violate the standards and requirements. Instead, they should assist in making sure that owners or businesses comply.

The mayor said that business establishments shall be treated as “partners” because if business is good, then the city government can collect higher taxes.

“They are our partners but at the same time please make sure that all these minimum medical requirements are followed by everyone,” he said.

He said that he “will not hesitate to stop the job order” of any of the compliance officers should there be reports of a misdemeanor.

As part of austerity measures, the Local Finance Committee recommended to limit the number of days that will be rendered by job hires and reduce their number by 20 percent.

This as the city government has a shortfall of more than P300 million in the first quarter of this year, the mayor said.

“Just do your task and I will try that you will not be removed by the city government,” he said adding that as long as they perform well, he will also try that the number of days they will render will not be reduced.

The compliance officers will be ensuring the observance of the Physical Distancing Ordinance that was enacted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) on May 12, 2020 stating that establishments defined as public places that will violate local regulation will be fined PHP5,000 on the first offense; and revocation of permit and closure of establishment on succeeding violations.

For individual offenders, they shall pay the fine of P500 for each violation.

The safe physical distancing markers should at least be one meter apart.

Public places shall include but not limited to public parks, plazas, streets, libraries, malls, bridges, stairways, buildings, boutiques, groceries, markets, supermarkets, groceries, pharmacies, among others.

Meanwhile, those who will be caught without face masks shall be fined PHP500 for every violation as provided for under Regulation Ordinance 2020-061 that was passed on April 23, 2020.

Face masks could be any fabric or clothing materials used to cover the face, especially the nose and the mouth.

As of May 28, Iloilo City has 18 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Thirteen have recovered, four are quarantined in a facility, and one has died.Perla Lena/PNA