TAGAYTAY CITY, Cavite – The cities of Bacoor and Tagaytay and the municipality of Kawit in Cavite have imposed new rules on the movement of unvaccinated individuals to stem the COVID-19 surge.

Unvaccinated individuals are not allowed to leave their homes unless to get essential products and services, to go to restaurants and recreational facilities, and to take public transportation, based on the guidelines of the three local government units.

Cavite has 1,370 active cases as of January 6, the largest number of active COVID-19 cases among provinces in Region 4A.

Tagaytay City under Mayor Agnes Tolentino bans unvaccinated individuals, whether visitors or residents, from entering business establishments.

The new policy is part of the local chief executive’s Executive Order (EO) No. 404, which she signed last January 4.

The EO adopts the Alert Level 3 guidelines of the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

The addendum directs establishments to require guests and customers to present their vaccination cards before entry.

The mayor also limits intrazonal and interzonal travel to adults 18 to 65 years old.

But her order allows persons below and above this age group to access essential goods and government services, move during emergencies, and work in permitted industries and exercise outdoors.

In Bacoor, the city administration has issued a “no vaccine card, no entry” policy in local and national government offices.

Unvaccinated individuals need to present a negative result of a rapid antigen test or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test as an alternative.

Last January 6, the Bacoor City Office of the Clerk of Court-Regional Trial Court announced that it is closing for a 14-day quarantine period until January 19.

The local government of Kawit under Mayor Angelo Aguinaldo on Thursday ordered all unvaccinated individuals to undergo a weekly RT-PCR test at their own expense based on his EO 003-2022, which also directs the unvaccinated to remain at home and bans them from taking public transportation, unless they need to access essential goods and services.

It orders all transportation services and business establishments to require proof of vaccination from patrons.

The order covers all non-Kawit residents who work and transact business in the locality. The order covers even outdoor dining, and entry to malls, sports facilities and event halls.

Any outdoor exercise for the unvaccinated will be allowed only in the general area of their residence, within subdivisions and barangays.

The IATF placed Cavite under Alert Level 3, along with Bulacan and Rizal, from January 5 to 15. It added Laguna starting January 7 and Batangas on January 9.

Under Alert Level 3, indoor establishments and activities are allowed to operate at a maximum of 30 percent of their venue capacity and are limited to fully vaccinated individuals.