Timely easing of travel restrictions

IT IS ABOUT time travel restrictions were relaxed or eased a bit in the light of the pandemic.

As usual, the Inter Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases or IATF, is at the forefront of issuing guidelines for the whole country to follow and has all the eyes and ears of President Duterte and other top government officials.

Among the rules eased by the IATF is that travellers will no longer be mandated to undergo COVID 19 test except when required by the LGU of their destination; will no longer be required to undergo quarantine unless he or she manifests symptoms of the disease upon arrival to the destination and the documentary requirements previously required such as the travel authority and health certificates.

But authorized persons outside residence (APOR) need to present identification cards, travel orders and travel itineraries. Screening for symptoms at ports of entry and exit is also being done on them.

Total rejoicing by travellers is yet uncalled for as there are remaining requirements that need to be submitted and observed like minimum health protocols and clinical assessments at ports of entry and exit.

So far, we have been a stickler to regulations and we’ve followed every single instruction dished out by the IATF.

But the vaccination volunteering is another issue since we are allowed to choose which brand of vaccine we are willing to be vaccinated with. That is an essence of democracy, of free choice and nobody can force us to undergo a procedure we do not accept.

* * *

Member LGUs of the League of Provinces of the Philippines are opposing the decision to remove the travel restrictions and requirements, except the negative results of the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction

“Unti-unti na nating masisimulan ang pag-roll out ng vaccines para sa pagbabakuna ng 411,634 residente ng siyudad. Uunahin muna natin ang mga health workers at frontliners ng siyudad gaya ng utos ng DOH, pero sisiguraduhin natin na lahat ng mga Angelen~ os mababakunahan at mapropeoteksyunan laban sa COVID-19,” Lazatin said.

Lazatin also inspected the COVID-19 cold storage facility for the vaccines established at the Angeles City Hall.

Accompanying Lazatin during the inspection were Chief Adviser and Tactician IC Calaguas, Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, RLMMC Head Doctor Froilan Canlas and Information and Communications Technology Division Chief Michael Lising.

According to Calaguas, the working committee for the city’s COVID-19 vaccination is working tirelessly to make sure that once the other batches of AstraZeneca vaccines arrive, the city government can immediately and efficiently conduct the citywide roll-out to the 33 barangays. #