SP cuts curfew by one hour, bucks malls’ petition
DESPITE the report of the provincial Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF) that COVID-19 cases in Pangasinan have dropped by 45 to 46 percent since its peak in October, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan was adamant in its stand not to lift the curfew but agreed to cut it by one hour.
In its virtual session last November 23, the SP approved the motion of Fourth District Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario, chairman on the committee on health, to further amend Provincial Ordinance No. 237-2020, from 8 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
In moving for shortening of the curfew just by one hour, Rosario maintained that the curfew ordinance was considered as a big help in bringing down the incidence of COVID-19 in Pangasinan.
“We cannot deny that part of the credit for the significant reduction of COVID-19 cases in our province is the strict implementation of the curfew,” Rosario told his colleagues.
Ordinance No, 241-200 imposes P2,000 fine and/or 12 hours of community service for the first offense; P3,000 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days for the second offense; and P5,000 or imprisonment of not more than 60 days for the third offense.
The one-hour reduction effectively rejected the petition of the SM Group of Companies and other malls in Pangasinan last month seeking the adjustment of the curfew hours to 10 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
The office of Governor Amado Espino III had opposed shorter curfew hours.
Rosario said his proposal for an 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. curfew still jibes with the position of the office of the Governor and also took into consideration the statement of P/Col. Redrico Maranan, police provincial director, that under the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), the number of UPORs or Unauthorized Persons Outside of Residence is already less than 10 percent.
This, Rosario said, could mean that only less than 10 percent of the population are the only ones affected when the curfew is on.
Meanwhile, Alaminos has passed an ordinance adjusting its curfew from 10 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. but since it is a component city of Pangasinan, the SP will likely veto it when submitted for review because of the provincial ordinance. (Leonardo Micua)
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