BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered on Sunday ordered the police to undertake aggressive drive against improper chewing of betel nut or “moma” in villages as part of the safety measures against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“Barangays will be inspected and the presence of moma spit will be a reason to lockdown the barangay,” Magalong said.
Last month, the city council approved an ordinance that regulates the chewing and spitting of betel nuts in public places and the selling of the same to minors.
This is to promote health and sanitation in the city, according to author City Councilor Joel Alangsab.
The measure does not intend to “suppress a renowned culture but merely to promote responsible exercise of said culture.”
Meanwhile, Magalong said while a lot of coronavirus disease patients had responded positively to the call for transparency to contain the spread of the virus, there are others who refused to come out for the sake of their privacy and the protection of their own circles.
“We are respectful of their decision as it is their right, we cannot help but lament how a change in their views and decisions would have made a great impact on our efforts to save lives. How many of their contacts and the contacts of their contacts — most of whom their very own relatives and friends while some may be innocent unknowns who have their own families to protect — would have been reached and saved in a short time if only they made that game-changing resolve to reveal their identities,” the mayor stressed.
“We continue to hope that concerned people will relent. Contagion time is cooperation time — time to go beyond self and think about the many who will stand to benefit from your selfless actions and decisions,” he added. (Zaldy Comanda)
