Mandaue City warns Pokémon Go players: Don’t play and drive

CEBU, Philippines – You can catch as many Pokemon as you want in Mandaue City, Cebu, but make sure you don’t do it while driving.

A local resolution, which might be the first passed by a local government in the Philippines, warns motorists and pedestrians not to play the game while driving or walking.

“Pokémon Go has drawn a large number of players in the Philippines,” the ordinance read. The game has “raised safety concerns among players. It has been reported that multiple people have suffered injuries from falling while playing the game.”

Pokémon Go, an augmented reality mobile game by Niantic Labs and Nintendo, was released in the Philippines on Saturday, August 6.

Several injuries and robberies had been reported in the United States and other countries.

The resolution was filed by Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna and councilors Raul Cabahug and Elstone Dabon. The resolution read, “be it hereby resolved to sternly warn Pokémon Go players not to play while driving or operating any vehicle.”

The resolution was posted on Mandaue City’s official page at around 8:30 pm on Wednesday, August 10.

The authors of the resolution did not move to ban the game, instead reminding players to “enjoy the game, [but] they should put their safety first.”

The post also told players that one Pokéstop in Mandaue City is the city hall itself.

– Rappler.com