MANILA, Philippines – The Manila City government has started to implement a “no-contact apprehension” of traffic law violators.

Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Monday (December 7) led the launching of the policy in an activity held at the intersection of Quirino Avenue and Taft Avenue in Malate, Manila.

Under the policy, motorists will be fined P2,000 on first offense, P3,000 on second offense, and P4,000 on third offense if they are caught disobeying traffic control signs and signals, obstructing pedestrian lanes, driving on yellow box, over speeding, non-wearing of helmet for motorcycle riders, and disregarding lane markings.

The will also be meted out with penalties if they commit counterflowing, reckless driving, and non-wearing of seatbelts.

Domagoso said the program makes use of 36 high definition CCTV cameras installed in key locations in the city which are monitored 24/7.

“With NCAP [no-contact apprehension], panatag ako knowing that traffic violators are always caught and identified, especially sa gabi. Most importantly, even during typhoons or other similar situations, these cameras can function on their own,” the mayor said in a statement.

Motorists caught with violation will receive a formal notice, which will be sent within two weeks after the date of the alleged violation via registered mail.

Domagoso warned traffic violators that they cannot ignore the city’s notices, as non-payment or settlement of traffic violation fines would disallow the violator to renew their vehicles’ registration at the Land Transportation Office along with additional fines and penalties.

MANILA, Philippines – The city government of Manila on Wednesday opened its newest quarantine facility at the San Andres Sports Complex in a bid to increase the city’s capacity in dealing with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“This is our preparation, and in our little way, to continue to strengthen our load capacity na kung sakali, huwag naman sanang loobin ng Dios na mangyari sa atin, yung nangyari sa most portion of Europe na nagkaroon ng second wave,” Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso told reporters at the opening of the quarantine center.

“Inaabatan namin iyong posibleng hindi magandang mangyari sa December o Enero so kung dumating iyon, at huwag naman sana, at least kahit papano, ‘yung Maynila may espasyo,” he added.

The airconditioned quarantine facility, which has 54 beds with toilet and WiFi, was established with the help of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

So far, the city has 13 operational quarantine facilities, aside from walk-in testing centers and two confirmatory or swab testing centers.

Mayor Isko said they are still looking for more spaces to be converted as isolation centers amid the pandemic.

“Sa awa ng Dios we only have 68 percent occupancy rate with our facilities and 33 percent occupancy rate sa amin namang mga COVID-19 bedrooms in our six hospitals,” he said.

As of Oct. 20, Manila has recorded a total of 18,963 COVID-19 infections with 557 deaths. – RRD (with details from Correspondent Dante Amento)

MANILA, Philippines – Public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, market vendors and employees of various establishments in the Philippine capital will be provided with free RT-PCR tests, the Manila City government said Wednesday.

In a statement, the city’s public information office said Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso issued the order which will cover employees of malls, hotels, restaurants and supermarkets, and vendors in public markets as well as drivers of e-trikes, pedicabs, tricycles, jeepneys and buses operating in the city.

Under Domagoso’s Executive Order No. 39, the Manila Health Department was tasked to provide free swab tests to said workers.

The order follows the launch of Sta. Ana Hospital’s second molecular laboratory, which has the capacity to process around 1,000 tests daily. The additional laboratory will raise the hospital’s test processing capacity to 30,000 a month.

“The real threat of COVID-19 will continue to persist in our community, thereby sending fear to every person of getting infected with it. This fear will affect not only the individual preferences and behavior or every person, but also the economic growth (of the city),” Domagoso said.

“In order to allay the fear of getting infected with COVID-19, there is a need to assure the public that employees of these frequently visited establishments are COVID-19 free and thus spur economic activities,” he added.

Mayor Isko also directed the Manila Bureau of Permits and Licensing Office, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila, and the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau to “require establishments under their jurisdiction to require filling up mandatory health declaration forms for contact tracing purposes.”