BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Baguio City government made the wearing of face shields mandatory in all public areas in the city.

According to Baguio City Public Information Office (PIO)  Chief Aileen Refuerzo, the city’s legislative body has approved on final reading Ordinance No. 49, series of 2021, or the Face Mask, Face Shield Ordinance of 2021.

This amended Ordinance No. 45-2020 or the Face Mask Ordinance of 2020 in the City of Baguio by incorporating the face shield requirement.

According to the ordinance, aside from wearing face masks, the public is now directed to wear face shields as added protection against the deadly viral disease.

“Any person venturing outside the comforts of their respective abodes, or going to public buildings and places shall at all time wear face masks and face shields until the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is completely eliminated in the Philippines or during the State of Public Health Emergency,” the ordinance read.

The amended ordinance now also regulates the indiscriminate disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the city.

The new policy also emphasized that any person is not allowed to make business transactions without a face mask and face shield in public areas such as public markets, supermarkets, groceries, malls, shopping centers, banks, and in any offices of the government.

A “No Face Shield, No Face Mask, No Ride” policy will apply in all public transportation sectors.

The Baguio City PIO also posted on Facebook several exceptions in the implementation of the ordinance.

Penalty for non-compliance in face mask order is P1,000 to P3,000 for first to third offense or cancellation of a business permit as appropriate.

Meanwhile, the penalties for not wearing a face shield and improper disposal of PPEs, discarded face masks, and face shields are P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for the second offense, and P2,000 for the third offense and cancellation of the permit as appropriate.

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT) announced on Wednesday (April 14) that a temporary mobile hospital and a drive-thru vaccination site will soon rise at the Rizal Park in Manila.

Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat confirmed the plan in response to the proposal of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso to establish a temporary mobile hospital at the Burnham Green of Rizal Park.

The proposal was agreed by the Board of Directors of the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Domagoso made such a request for a temporary mobile hospital in Rizal Park “in anticipation of a possible surge of COVID-19 cases” in the city.

The city mayor committed to design, construct, maintain, and manage the hospital “up to its logical conclusion,” at no cost to the national government.

Domagoso also promised to restore the Burnham Green area where the hospital will be constructed, back to its original condition.

Likewise, the Board also approved the construction of a temporary drive-thru vaccination site at the Independence Road (Parade Grounds) of the Quirino Grandstand, also under the management of the NPDC.

The temporary drive-thru vaccination site will be located beside the drive-thru RT-PCR testing facility managed by the City of Manila together with NPDC.

Secretary Puyat said that the mobile hospital will be open to everyone and will cater to patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.

Meanwhile, the temporary drive-thru vaccination site to be built at the Parade Grounds of Quirino Grandstand is expected to accommodate 350 to 400 individuals for vaccination per day.

BAGUIO CITY – Nagdaos ngayong Lunes ng simulation exercise ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Baguio City para sa proseso ng pagbabakuna kontra novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Ito ang bilang paghahanda sa inaasahang pagdating ng unang batch ng COVID-19 vaccines sa bansa at pag-arangkada ng mass vaccination program ng pamahalaan ngayong buwan ng Pebrero.

Sa unang bahagi ng simulation, isinagawa ang vaccine transport procedure mula sa City Health Office sa T. Alonzo patungo sa vaccination area sa gym ng University of Baguio.

Walong minuto ang nai-record na oras ng paghahatid ng bakuna.

Sa ikalawang bahagi ng simulation ay inilatag naman ang pagkakasunud-sunod ng bawat phase ng proseso gaya ng paglalagay ng waiting area, registration, counselling, medical screening, at vaccination area sa itinakdang vaccination site.

Upang mapabilis ang proseso, kailangang dumaan sa online pre-registration ang mga magpapabakuna bago ang mismong araw ng immunization.

Pagkatapos nito ay dadaan sila sa counselling at screening para sa anumang impormasyon o katanungan ukol sa pagpapabakuna. Sa phase na ito rin maaaring hilingin sa mga magpapabakuna ang kanilang health status at iba pang bagay na kailangang dumaan sa beripikasyon.

Ipinakita rin ang mga panuntunan at prosesong dapat sundin ng mga magpapabakuna, bago at pagkatapos nilang maturukan, para na rin sa kanilang kaligtasan.

Tiniyak rin ng lokal na pamahalaan na may ilalagay silang standby medical at healthcare workers, pati na ng ambulansiya, sa post-vaccination area upang agad tumugon sa sinumang mangangailangan ng atensiyong medikal o kaya ay magkakaroon ng reaksyon sa tinanggap na bakuna.

Ayon sa lokal na pamahalaan, mahalaga ang pagsasagawa ng simulation upang ma-assess ang proseso at matugunan ang mga nasalungang isyu sa transportation at vaccination.

Ilan sa mga napansin nilang kailangan pang pagtuunan ng pansin ay ang sitwasyon ng mga persons with disabilities (PWD) na maaaring lumahok sa programa gayundin ang pagsasagawa ng sanitation sa bawat lugar.

Ayon kay Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, magagamit ang assessment ng evaluation team sa ginawang simulation upang mapag-ibayo pa ang kalidad at kahandaan ng Baguio City sa pagpapatupad ng COVID-19 vaccination program. – RRD (mula sa ulat ni Correspondent Marvin Calas)