Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar reminded police officers who will handle quarantine control points (QCPs) to ensure the free movement of cargo vehicles carrying essential goods such as food.
This is in preparation for stricter border control measures days before the implementation of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila from August 6 to 20.
Eleazar also reminded the public that there are only two types of authorized person outside residence (APORs) who will be allowed entry into the National Capital Region (NCR) — essential workers or workforce APORs and consumer APORs.
Workforce APORs are those whose companies, businesses, or industries they work in are allowed to operate under ECQ, while consumer APORs are those allowed to go out to avail of the services of the businesses.
“Ang workforce APORs at ang consumer APORs ay pinapayagan na lumabas at pumasok sa Kalakhang Maynila bilang parte ng pagbalanse ng ekonomiya ng ating bansa,” Eleazar said.
Police will only allow APORs to pass if they present their Inter-Agency Task Force identification cards issued by regulatory agencies, and valid IDs or pertinent documentation issued by establishments allowed to operate under the current quarantine status.
On Saturday (July 31), Interior Sec. Eduardo Año instructed the Joint Task Force (JTF) COVID Shield, headed by Police Lt. Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson, to start enforcing stricter border controls in NCR Plus (Metro Manila plus Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, and Rizal) starting midnight on August 1.
“Bilang tugon sa kautusan ng ating [Interior Sec.] Eduardo Año, kinausap ko na ang JTF COVID Shield Commander, ang NCRPO [NCR Police Office] Director, at iba pang commanders para sa pagpapa-igting ng ating checkpoints. Ito ay paghahanda na rin natin sa nalalapit na implementasyon ng ECQ sa Metro Manila,” Eleazar said.
“We should also ensure the free passage of cargo or delivery vehicles transporting essential items such as food supplies. Kailangan ito upang hindi matigil ang dating ng supply ng mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
NCR will be under ECQ from August 6 to August 20 as part of the measures to contain the spread of the virus amid the rising number of cases of the virulent Delta variant.
“Napakalaki ng perwisyong idinulot ng Delta variant sa mga bansang unang tinamaan nito, kaya mahalaga ang bawat oras para tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan,” Eleazar said.
“Sa panig ng PNP, patuloy kaming magiging kabahagi sa pagtupad ng aming mandato na tiyakin ang proteksyon ng bawat Pilipino. Subalit ang tagumpay ng layuning ito ay nakasalalay din sa pang-unawa, respeto at pakikipag-tulungan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
“Humihingi rin tayo ng kooperasyon sa ating mga kababayan na sana ay maging sulit ang paghihirap o sakripisyo na ating gagawin, para ma-realize natin ang ating objective na ma-control ang virus, particularly itong Delta variant,” Eleazar also said. (PNP-PIO) – jlo
