Republic of the Philippines

PROVINCE OF BOHOL
City of Tagbilaran

OFFICE OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN

THE 28TH BOHOL LEGISLATURE

PROVINCIAL ORDINANCE NO. 2020-007

INTENSIFYING THE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO AVERT WIDESPREAD CONTAGION OF

COVID-19 AND OTHER EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN BOHOL AND IMPOSING
SANCTIONS FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

PREFATORY STATEMENT

“WHEREAS, on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the
COVID-19 (previously known as “2019 novel coronavirus”) a Public Health Emergency of
International Concern in response to the growing concern over its outbreak and has
characterized it as pandemic on March 12, 2020;

“WHEREAS, a State of Public Health Emergency has been declared throughout the entire
Philippines under Proclamation No. 922 by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte;

“WHEREAS, concrete and proactive steps must be undertaken to prevent, contain and
restrict the possibility of spreading this pandemic within the territorial jurisdiction of the
Province of Bohol;

“WHEREAS, Section 9 (e) of Republic Act No. 11332, An Act Providing Policies and
Prescribing Procedures on Surveillance and Response to Notifiable Diseases, Epidemics, and
Health Events of Public Health Concern, and Appropriating Funds Therefor, Repealing for the
Purpose Act No. 3573, Otherwise Known as the "Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases"
provides that non-cooperation of the person or entities identified as having the notifiable disease,
or affected by the health event of public concern is a prohibited and punishable act;

“WHEREAS, pursuant to Article 2, Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, and

Sections 16-17, the General Welfare Clause of the Local Government Code, local government units
are charged with the promotion of health and safety within their jurisdictions, including the
provision of services to control communicable diseases and as such, the Provincial Government
must take the lead in the prevention and control of the coronavirus at the local level;

“WHEREFORE, be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol, in session duly

assembled, that:

“SECTION 1. Title – This Ordinance shall be known as the “Intensified Precautionary

Measures to Avert Widespread Contagion of Covid-19 in Bohol Ordinance of 2020.”

“SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy – It is the adopted policy of the Provincial

Government of Bohol to promote and ensure the protection of the health and safety of its
residence from all forms of communicable and non-communicable diseases, especially those
which have epidemic effects;

“SECTION 3. Definition of Terms – For purposes of this Ordinance, the following terms
shall mean and be construed as follows:
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a. COVID-19 – An infectious disease caused by the virus strain "severe acute respiratory
syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)”. The common signs of infection include
respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

b. Persons Under Investigation (PUI) – Persons with either travel history in the past
14 days to areas with issued travel restrictions or history of exposure and showing
signs and symptoms of COVID-19. They are mandated to undergo hospital admission.

c. Persons Under Monitoring (PUM) – Persons who have travel history in the past 14
days to areas with issued travel restrictions or history of exposure and not showing
signs and symptoms of the coronavirus. They are mandated to undergo 14-day self-
quarantine.

d. Local Transmission – This means transmission in a local geographical setting.

e. Community Transmission – This means widespread transmission beyond the

defined geographical area.

f. History of Exposure – This includes: a) contact with a confirmed or probable case of

COVID-19 infection, or b) worked in or attended a health care facility where patients
with confirmed probable COVID-19 cases were being treated.

g. Contact – A person involved in any of the following:

a) Providing direct care for COVID-19 patients, working with health care workers
infected with novel coronavirus, visiting patients or staying in the same close
environment with a COVID-19 patient;

b) Working together in close proximity or sharing the same classroom

environment with a COVID-19 patient;

c) Travelling together with a COVID-19 patient in any kind of conveyance;

d) Living in the same household with a COVID-19 patient within a 14-day period
after the onset of symptoms in the case under consideration.

h. Quarantine – The limitation of movement by competent authorities, of persons who

have been exposed or are suspected to have been exposed to a person inflicted with a
communicable disease. This includes voluntary home confinement which is the
voluntary limitation of movement of a person within the confines of the person’s
residence, for a period not less than fourteen (14) days.

i. Panic-monger – A person who fosters panic by spreading unauthorized and

unverified information related to COVID-19 and other such infectious diseases.

“SECTION 4. Rules and Procedures for the Quarantine of Suspected or Confirmed

Coronavirus Victims – Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) are directed for mandatory hospital
admission. Persons Under Monitoring (PUMs) are directed to undergo self-quarantine for 14
days;
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The roles and responsibilities of local officials and teams are as follows:

a. The respective Municipal Health Offices of all the Municipalities of the Province of Bohol,
in close coordination with the Provincial Health Office (PHO) and the Regional Office of
the Department of Health (DOH), shall:

i. Regularly check the conditions of the PUMs over the course of the home
quarantine period through the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams
(BHERTs);
ii. Issue a certificate of completion of the 14-day quarantine and clearance, as the
case may be.

b. The Philippine National Police shall effect the compulsory confinement of persons
arriving from another country or locality with or without a confirmed COVID-19 case, who
refuse to undergo home confinement, or voluntary quarantine at the barangay isolation
unit (BUI), and ensure their completion of the 14-day quarantine period in the unlikely
event that the Punong Barangay and the BHERT fail to convince the subject person or
persons to voluntarily undergo the 14-day quarantine;

c. Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams:

i. If symptoms are observed, immediately isolate and confine the arriving resident,
now a PUI, to the BUI, prior to his or her immediate safe transfer to a DOH-
designated referral center or quarantine facility for further examination and
treatment;
ii. Place the rest of the household members under 14-day home confinement, and
repeat the process for them, including the contact-tracing;
iii. If no symptoms are observed after the 14-day voluntary quarantine, report the
same to the Punong Barangay who will inform their respective Municipal Health
Officers and recommend the lifting of the quarantine and certify the PUIs to be
free from COVID- 19 infection.

“Section 5. Protocols for Confirmed Case/s of Local Transmission – To prevent cases

of local transmission and community transmission, the Municipal Mayor of each Municipality in
the Province of Bohol shall adopt measures against the possibility of spread of COVID-19, to
include, but not limited to, the following:

a) Direct the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) to
assess the proximity of areas near their municipality where a confirmed case of local
transmission resides or frequents. The MDRRMO shall submit a report to the Municipal
Mayor with recommendations for the suspension of classes or work in public offices in
the proximity;

b) Work closely with the Department of Health in conducting contact tracing;

c) Disseminate to the public the results of contract tracings and areas where the confirmed
case frequented. Encourage those who may have been in contact with the confirmed case
to monitor symptoms of COVID-19 and submit to voluntary testing if symptoms arise;
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d) Direct the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team to refer individual persons who
are certain to have been in contact with a confirmed case and suffering the symptoms of
COVID-19 within 14 days of the confirmation of the disease to undergo mandatory testing;

e) Direct the PNP to effect mandatory testing for those confirmed to be in contact with the
confirmed case of COVID-19 and showing symptoms within 14 days of the confirmation
of the disease in the unlikely event that the Punong Barangay and the BHERT fail to
convince the subject person or persons to voluntarily undergo testing;

f) Direct the Municipal Health Office to strictly enforce home quarantine of persons under
investigation;

g) Direct the establishment of checkpoints and other means of curtailing the movements of
concerned persons, vehicles and animals, provided the same are for a definite and limited
duration of time and due regard is given to the constitutional rights of all individuals.

When directed by the Secretary of Health, the transport and conduction of COVID-19
patients to hospitals or health centers for isolation and treatment shall be allowed and
upheld. No arrests and detentions shall be enforced except upon lawful processes
emanating from the courts or upon order of quarantine by the Secretary of Health in
accordance with law for the purpose of preventing the introduction, transmission or
spread of COVID-19;

SECTION 6. Other Preventive Measures Against the Spread of COVID-19 – In order to

prevent the entry and spread of COVID-19 in the Province, the Provincial Governor and the
Municipal Mayors in all Municipalities in the Province of Bohol shall adopt measures against its
spread to include, but not limited to, the following:

1. Prevention and mitigation:

a. Implement periodic precautionary measures such as sanitation, disinfection, and any

other measures against the threat and spreading of COVID-19 over:

i. All provincial and municipal government properties and facilities including the
respective offices, facilities and properties of all barangays;
ii. Public and private schools within the jurisdiction of every Municipality of the
Province of Bohol;
iii. Private businesses within the jurisdiction of every Municipality of the Province
of Bohol;
iv. All national government offices and properties within the Province of Bohol.

b. Suspension of all crowd-drawing, government-related events and activities including

team building and seminars conducted elsewhere, if any, in collaboration with the
Province of Bohol;

c. Conduct of massive information drive to raise the consciousness of the constituents

on COVID-19. The information drive may include fliers, leaflets and other information
materials on COVID-19 through the help of the barangay health workers, other
officials and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, and members of non-
government organizations in the area;
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d. Intensify the efforts of the coastal barangays in preventing the entry of any person
coming from the neighboring provinces of Bohol using motorized bancas/boats;

e. Ensure that only the official information and data provided by the DOH and WHO-
Philippines are used in advisories, updates and information disseminated on
information materials, websites and social media accounts;

f. Tap the local media in informing the public about COVID-19 and the measures
necessary to prevent and contain the disease;

g. Conduct a province-wide cleanliness and sanitation campaign in collaboration with

the respective municipal LGUs;

h. Monitor the prices of medicines and medical devices and cause the filing of
appropriate charges against any person or entity involved in hoarding or over-
pricing;

i. Province-wide curfew hours shall be imposed from 9:00 o’clock in the evening until
5:00 o’clock in the morning, except for those persons performing essential tasks such
as health workers, persons working on the pharmacy store, uniformed personnel, and
the like. If the local government unit has imposed an earlier curfew hour, the same
prevail.

For citizens aged 65 and above, as well as those below 18 years old, their home
confinement is on a 24-hour basis until the health authorities shall recommend the
lifting thereof. Public officials performing their official functions shall be exempted
from this provision. Health workers or personnel with age 65 or above, in the
performance of their health functions, shall also be exempted from the 24-hour home
confinement, provided, they are in good physical condition, and when public interest
so requires, such as when there is no doctor or health worker in the vicinity, as the
case may be; provided further that they shall not be in the forefront of COVID-19 cases.
Also exempted are those persons aged 65 and above who are in actual performance
of farming and fishery activities as well as those minors aged 15 to 17 who actually
assist their family in any farming and fishery activities.

j. Monitor the proliferation of fake news relative to COVID-19 which foster panic to the
community and identify the social media accounts which engage in panic-mongering
or spreading unauthorized or unverified information regarding COVID-19.

All private entities are enjoined to implement their own periodic precautionary and
mitigation measures against the threat of COVID-19 businesses and properties.

2. Containment and Control:

a. Organize Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) at the minimum

ratio of 1 team for every 5,000 people and mobilize them to help implement
prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response measures for the COVID-19;
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b. Provide all medical staff ambulance crew, BHERT members, and other local health
care workers, including PNP and BFP personnel who will potentially be exposed to,
or get in direct contact with PUIs and PUMs, with appropriate personal protective
equipment;

c. Mandatorily require all owners/proprietors/administrators of private

establishments, including private hospitals, to formulate their own safety measures
to protect their employees;

d. Mandatorily require any crematorium or funeral and embalming establishments to

provide for the immediate cremation/burial of any person confirmed or suspected to
have died of COVID-19. These establishments are further required to coordinate with
the DOH and Local Health Authorities in formulating for the safe handling of the
remains of persons confirmed or suspected to have died of COVID-19;

e. Direct all Punong Barangays to identify and designate an appropriate place that will
serve as the barangay isolation unit;

f. Monitor the arrival of barangay residents who recently arrived in the Philippines from
a province, city or country with a confirmed COVID-19 case and coordinate with the
Punong Barangay on actions taken.

“SECTION 7. Funding – The appropriate funding for the implementation of this

Ordinance shall be taken from the respective funds of the Municipalities and from the Province.
The calamity fund of the province or municipality may be utilized subject to the provisions of
Republic Act 8185, amending section 324 (d) of Republic Act 7160, as amended. The Governor,
or Municipal Mayor, as the case maybe, is hereby authorized to utilize the calamity fund, subject
to availability of funds and the usual accounting and auditing procedures;

“SECTION 8. Prohibited Acts – The following shall be prohibited under this Ordinance:

A. Non-cooperation of persons identified as having the infectious disease, or persons

related to the issue –

1. Any person who shall refuse to follow the protocol provided by the DOH with
regard to persons confirmed to have COVID-19;

2. Any person who refuses to undergo quarantine despite being mandated by the
DOH or Provincial/Municipal Health Office;

3. Any health worker who shall negligently perform his or her duties imposed upon
him/her by the DOH, the Provincial or Municipal Health Office or similar
institutions;

4. Any person who refuses to be subjected to medical examinations or testing if

required by the Provincial or Municipal Government or the DOH as stated in
Sections 4 and 5.

B. Non-cooperation of entities or establishments –

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1. Owner/s of any establishment which neglects to follow the quarantine procedures

shall be liable;

2. Owner/s of any establishment refusing to extend appropriate assistance and

support to those having the disease, especially their employees, shall be liable.

C. Violation of any of the issuances and orders issued by the Local Chief Executive in
relation to the implementation of Section 6, hereof.

D. Dissemination of fraudulent, fake news, or misleading information regarding COVID-

19 in various forms of media, particularly on social media.

E. Barangay officials who refuse to implement or neglect to perform their duties in

connection with this Ordinance shall be administratively liable.

“SECTION 9. Penalties and Fines – Any person or entity found to have violated the
section on prohibited acts shall be subjected to the following sanctions or penalties:

1. Persons confirmed to have COVID-19 shall undergo a mandatory quarantine or other

forms of confinement identified by the DOH. In case of minors, they shall be subject to
confinement with the consent/approval of parents or legal guardians;

2. Refusal to follow the protocol despite the issuance of DOH orders and this Ordinance
shall be imposed a fine ranging from P3,000.00 to P5,000.00, or imprisonment not
exceeding 6 months, or both at the discretion of the court;

3. Establishment owners/proprietors who negligently followed the protocol (medical

supplies/quarantine protocol) shall be imposed a fine ranging from P3,000.00 to
P5,000.00 or imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or both at the discretion of the
court;

4. Establishment or entities who refuse or negligently perform the order of the DOH or
the Provincial or Municipal Health Office shall be subjected to a suspension or
revocation of their Business Permit upon finding of any violation of this Ordinance;

5. Any morgue, crematorium, funeral or embalming establishment offering cremation

services which would refuse to cremate or embalm any person confirmed to have died
from COVID-19 despite the written permission form the immediate family of the
victim or the Department of Health shall be subject to closure and cancellation of their
business and mayor’s permit, and the owners, proprietors and the manager of the said
establishment shall be imposed a fine not exceeding P5,000.00 or imprisonment for a
period not exceeding 1 year or both, at the discretion of the court.

The Business Permit and Licensing Office of the local government units shall conduct
regular inspection, price control and monitoring activities and may impose
administrative fines against erring entities or establishment or recommend
prosecution for violation of this ordinance;

6. Those persons who, are not exempted and without any valid reason, are caught
strolling or roaming around in public places within the curfew hours from 9:00 p.m.
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to 5:00 a.m. shall be imposed a fine ranging from P3,000.00 to P5,000.00 or

imprisonment for a period not exceeding 1 year or both, at the discretion of the court;

7. Those persons who purposely and willingly disseminate fraudulent/fake news,

particularly on social media, that caused panic, distress or disturbance of public peace
shall be imposed a fine ranging from P 3,000.00 to P 5,000.00 or imprisonment for a
period not exceeding 1 year or both, at the discretion of the court.

“SECTION 10. Separability Clause – If any provision of this Ordinance is declared invalid
or unconstitutional, other parts or provisions thereof which are not affected thereby shall remain
in full force and effect;

“SECTION 11. Repealing Clause – All Ordinances, Resolutions or other issuances found
to be inconsistent with this Ordinance are hereby repealed or modified accordingly;

“SECTION 12. Authorship, Sponsorship, Co-sponsorship and Deliberation – This

Ordinance was authored by Hon. Romulo G. Cepedoza, sponsored en masse, and duly deliberated
by all Members present;

“SECTION 13. Effectivity – This Ordinance shall take effect immediately after its approval
and posting in three (3) prominent places and publication in a local newspaper of general
circulation.

APPROVED: March 24, 2020.

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DIONISIO VICTOR A. BALITE, Ph.D.

Acting Vice Governor
(Presiding Officer)

ATTESTED:

BONIFACIO M. QUIROG, JR., J.D., Ph.D.

Secretary, Sangguniang Panlalawigan

APPROVED:

ATTY. ARTHUR C. YAP

Governor

Date Signed: ______________________