Valenzuela City ordinance removes stigma from COVID-19 infection
Published May 20, 2020 12:00 am
By Joseph Almer Pedrajas
The local government of Valenzuela City has moved to remove the stigma of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by launching a crackdown on people making fun of it.
(VALENZUELA CITY PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Ordinance No. 708 or the "Bawal Ang COVID-19 Jokes Ordinance," prohibits residents from making untruthful claims of infection and malicious imputation of sickness on other persons.
"No person shall willfully and maliciously convey, communicate, transmit, impart, pass on or otherwise disseminate, by word of mouth or in written, printed or video form, through whatever form or medium of communication...false information of COVID-19 infection or malicious imputation of COVDI-19 sickness on another person, class or groups of persons," according to the ordinance.
The measure stemmed from the city council's belief that such act "stirs fear, panic and anxiety to the whole community," so "there is a pressing and urgent need" to address it.
A P5,000 fine or a responsibility to render "socio-cultural services," including re-packing or distributing of relief goods and other community service, shall be meted to those caught violating the measure.
They may also face criminal charges should there be probable cause that they are spreading malicious claims or should it be found that they reside in the city "at the time of the commission of the offense."
For minors, particularly those aged 15 years old and below, who will go against any provision of the measure, the city's social welfare and development office shall take charge of them through determining appropriate intervention programs.
Meanwhile, "for minor offenders above 15 years old but below 18 years old...the social welfare and development office shall explain to and guardians the consequences of act."
"Should the child fail to comply with or abide by his or her intervention program, the parent or legal guardian of the child...shall be summoned before the barangay council...for orientation and counseling and shall be penalized in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Parental Responsibility," the ordinance read.
(VALENZUELA CITY PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Ordinance No. 708 or the "Bawal Ang COVID-19 Jokes Ordinance," prohibits residents from making untruthful claims of infection and malicious imputation of sickness on other persons.
"No person shall willfully and maliciously convey, communicate, transmit, impart, pass on or otherwise disseminate, by word of mouth or in written, printed or video form, through whatever form or medium of communication...false information of COVID-19 infection or malicious imputation of COVDI-19 sickness on another person, class or groups of persons," according to the ordinance.
The measure stemmed from the city council's belief that such act "stirs fear, panic and anxiety to the whole community," so "there is a pressing and urgent need" to address it.
A P5,000 fine or a responsibility to render "socio-cultural services," including re-packing or distributing of relief goods and other community service, shall be meted to those caught violating the measure.
They may also face criminal charges should there be probable cause that they are spreading malicious claims or should it be found that they reside in the city "at the time of the commission of the offense."
For minors, particularly those aged 15 years old and below, who will go against any provision of the measure, the city's social welfare and development office shall take charge of them through determining appropriate intervention programs.
Meanwhile, "for minor offenders above 15 years old but below 18 years old...the social welfare and development office shall explain to and guardians the consequences of act."
"Should the child fail to comply with or abide by his or her intervention program, the parent or legal guardian of the child...shall be summoned before the barangay council...for orientation and counseling and shall be penalized in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Parental Responsibility," the ordinance read.