LGUs urged to go house-to-house for passes

MANILA, Philippines — Only house-to-house distribution of quarantine passes will be allowed in Metro Manila and nearby provinces placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until Aug.18, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In an interview with “The Chiefs” on Cignal TV’s One News Monday evening, DILG Undersecretary for operations Epimaco Densing III said barangay workers should be the ones distributing new quarantine passes instead of requiring their constituents to line up outside barangay halls for their passes. Such procedure, he said, could expose them to  COVID-19.

Only those with quarantine passes are allowed to do errands outside their homes, like buying food and other essential goods. Every household is entitled to a quarantine pass. Densing said old quarantine passes would still be accepted until new ones are issued.

President Duterte on Sunday ordered that Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite and Rizal be placed under MECQ from Aug. 4 to 18, giving in to the request of healthcare workers for a “timeout” so they could refresh and deal with the surge in COVID-19 cases more effectively.

Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said they would honor old quarantine passes. However, he reminded the people to buy their needs right in their hometowns or cities.

“We have checkpoints, and you can’t just go through them. You should buy everything you need right in your communities,” he said in Filipino over Teleradyo.

Local government units (LGUs) in areas under MECQ will also impose a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. to restrict the movement of people.

Densing said LGUs would also have a unified ordinance mandating the wearing of face masks and observance of social distancing measures in public places as well as imposition of fines on violators.

While waiting for the ordinance, Densing said law enforcers may just order people without face masks and quarantine passes to return to their homes.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said citizens should strictly comply with quarantine protocols if they really wish to see their communities become COVID free and “graduate” to more relaxed quarantine status.

“Just follow rules and regulations and we’ll surely graduate,” he said in Filipino at a press briefing.

“If we don’t cooperate, there will be more difficulty. This will drag on, so let’s help each other,” he said. – Jose Rodel Clapano