San Fernando, Pampanga—The Pampanga provincial board approved during its regular session Thursday a resolution penalizing parents and guardians who allow minors to roam the streets without face masks and commit other health protocol violations during the coronavirus pandemic.
Under Provincial Ordinance No. 765 Series 2020, parents and guardians will be fined P2,000 or imprisoned 3 months or both, at the discretion of the court for first offense.
For the second and third offense, the custodians are liable for P3,000 with 4 months imprisonment and P5,000 and 6 months imprisonment, respectively, the measure added.
The law with take effect immediately upon publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the province.
Aside from not wearing face masks, other violations penalized by the ordinance include lack of physical distancing, travel restrictions, curfew violations, and mass gatherings, which is proven by public health authorities to be “super-spreading” the coronavirus.
Under the law, parents refer to the biological or adoptive father or mother or guardians of the minor child, which is generally below 18 years old, and “must be responsible enough to guide their children and help the government in its campaign against the disease.”
Also included among the special parental authorities are grandparents as provided for under Article 214 of the Family Code, older brothers and sisters under 21 years old, and the child’s actual custodian, the ordinance said.
Gov. Dennis Pineda said the restrictions imposed by the law are needed not only for the safety and
welfare of minors but also for everybody, as the disease “is spreading like wildfire in the province,
brought about by local migrants working in Metro Manila.”
"This is ‘all hands on deck’ for all of us," Pineda said.
The ordinance also enjoined all government officials in Pampanga to implement the law without
discrimination, and in cooperation with other government agencies like Department of Social Welfare and
Development.
In case of quarantine violation, the minor shall be placed or released to the custody of their parents,
guardians, or nearest relatives, in case their parents or guardians cannot be located.
However, in cases where the child’s relatives refuse to take custody, the child will be brought to duly
registered non-government or religious organizations, village councils, city and municipal welfare offices
for their protection and custody.
The law was approved during the regular session presided by Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda and with majority
concurrence of Board Members Cherry D. Manalo, Mylyn P. Cayapyab, Rosve V. Henson, Rolando D
Balingit, Fernando P. Labung, Benjamin D. Jocson, Nelson T. Calara, Olga Frances D. Dizon, Anthony
Joseph S. Torres, Ananias L. Canlas Jr., Venancio S. Macapagal, Renato L. Mutuc, and Gabriel Moshe
T. Lacson.