Cops at QCPS told: Ensure free flow of essential goods
THE Philippine National Police has ordered its personnel who will man Quarantine Control Points (QCPS) to ensure the free movement of cargo vans or trucks carrying essential goods as the stricter border control in Metro Manila begins ahead of the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region.
At the same time, National Police chief General Guillermo Eleazar reminded the public that there are only two Authorized Person Outside residence (APORS) who will be allowed entry into Metro Manila and these are the essential workers or “Workforce APORS” and the ”Consumer APORS.”
Workforce APORS are those
whose companies, businesses or industries they work in are allowed to operate under the ECQ while the Consumer APORS are those allowed to go out to avail themselves of the services of the businesses.
Police will only allow APORS to pass if they present their IATF 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, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año tasked the Joint Task Force COVID Shield headed by Police Lt. Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson to start the stricter border control in NCR Plus in Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, and rizal starting midnight on August 1.
The 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 virulent Delta variant.
“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 suplay ng mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan [This is needed so that the arrival of supply for the basic needs of our countrymen will not stop],” Eleazar said.
The stricter border control began on Sunday with QCPS manned by combined elements of the Philippine
National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fire Protection having been put up in the borders of rizal, Cavite, Laguna and Bulacan with their adjoining provinces.
There are no QCPS inside the NCR Plus area which groups Metro Manila with Bulacan, rizal, Laguna and Cavite.
“At the moment, the QCPS are at the borders of Bulacan, rizal, Laguna and Cavite with adjoining provinces but once we move to ECQ starting August 6, checkpoints will now be located inside Metro Manila,” Año said.
He said that the QCPS are located at the borders of Bulacan with Pampanga and Nueva Ecija, rizal with Quezon, Laguna with Batangas and Quezon, and Cavite with Batangas.
The DILG secretary said that nonetheless, the PNP may still install regular checkpoints inside the NCR Plus bubble to implement curfew hours, enforce minimum health standards and for general law enforcement.