Manila allows use of old passes

Residents of Manila may use the old barangay quarantine passes previously issued to them during the modified enhanced community quarantine currently in effect over the National Capital Region and nearby provinces.

The move will prevent the public from gathering at barangay halls just to get a new one, and possibly violate the protocol on physical distancing.

In his regular Facebook Live broadcast, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said quarantine passes will only be issued to those who have lost or need a new one.

The passes are needed for a single household member to leave their house and purchase essential goods, such as food and medicine, during the MECQ period.

Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso said quarantine passes will only be issued to those who have lost or need a new one.

The Manila Barangay Bureau clarified that curfew hours have reverted to 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. from the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. schedule during the general community quarantine.

Romeo Bagay, MBB director, said the odd-even scheme will also be employed in the use of the quarantine passes.

Those with passes ending in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) may go out on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while holders of passes ending in even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8, 0) may do so on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The use of passes on Sundays is still being threshed out.

Bagay said only one person per family may be allowed to use the pass, provided he or she is aged between 21 and 59 only, unless if the pass holder lives alone or is among those authorized by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

Barangay checkpoints may be set up to limit those entering a barangay only to residents or have legitimate transactions allowed by the IATF.