Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar tasked the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to ensure that police officers are well-informed of the new guidelines pertaining to the alert level system of COVID-19 quarantine classifications that will be enforced in Metro Manila.
The new guidelines for these quarantine classifications have already been provisionally approved.
“Now that the guidelines for the quarantine alert system were already issued, I have tasked our police commanders in Metro Manila to make sure that all police personnel on the ground are fully informed of what is allowed and not permitted for each quarantine alert level,” Eleazar said.
“Before September 16, NCRPO units should have coordinated with LGUs to determine the quarantine alert in their areas of responsibility so they could effectively enforce the granular lockdowns,” he added.
Eleazar underscored the importance of coordination with local government units on the new guidelines, saying it is also a way of helping the healthcare workers who have been at the frontline of COVID-19 response for more than a year now.
“Masyadong bugbog na ang ating mga health care workers sa mahigit na isang taon nating pakikipaglaban sa COVID-19, at nakita ko mismo ito sa sitwasyon ng mga medical frontliners sa aming hanay,” Eleazar said.
“Kailangan nila ng tulong at reinforcement sa laban na ito at ito naman ang pakay ng mga alituntuning ipinapatupad ng ating pamahalaan upang huwag nang lumala ang pandemyang ito,” he added.
Among the provisions of the new guidelines are that under Alert Level 4, which is the highest risk classification, dine-in, personal services, and mass gatherings are not allowed.
Authorized persons outside residence (APOR) will also be limited to healthcare workers and returning and leaving overseas Filipino workers, which means that even government officials residing in areas that would be under localized lockdowns would not be allowed to go out.
Eleazar appealed for the public’s cooperation and understanding on these new regulations, noting that it is for the health and safety of everybody.
“Humihiling tayo sa publiko ng kaunting pang-unawa at pakikisama sa mga panuntunan na ipinatutupad ng pamahalaan dahil na din sa patuloy na banta ng COVID-19. Kailangan itong gawin para pangalagaan ang ating kaligtasan at kalusugan at upang mapigilan ang lalong pagkalat ng coronavirus,” the PNP chief said.
(PNP-PIO) – jlo
