Garcia cuts red tape for cargo trucks

CEBU, Philippines — Cargo trucks in Cebu will be issued a general pass by their respective local governments of origin so as to avoid delays in the delivery of goods and other important shipments amid the enhanced community quarantine.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia informed Capitol reporters that she will release a memorandum in line with her Executive Order No. 5-O which lays down the guidelines and protocols in the implementation of the ECQ.

This memorandum, Garcia said, will direct all the mayors to issue a general cargo pass for trucks ferrying essential goods and supplies between Cebu City and the rest of the province.

She explained that although the National Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 designated particular departments to issue their respective cargo passes, the application process takes time and might delay the delivery of goods.

“Supposed to be unta DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) ang mo-issue ana according to IATF resolution pero for certain goods and supplies ra pud. Other supplies pud, pareha sa mga vegetables and all, DA (Department of Agriculture) pud. Dugay na kaayo kay mo-apply pa diri, mo-apply pa didto,” Garcia explained.

“Para unimpeded, (we will ask mayors to issue the passes). Di makontrolar, di madugay ang atong gikinahanglan nga supplies. So mo-issue ta ana na memorandum kay we remind the local government units to issue. Ang mayor na ana mo issue sa ilang accredited cargo holders,” she added.

Apart from cargo trucks, the provincial government also allows very few exemptions in the ban on entry into and exist from provincial jurisdiction to Cebu City, which Garcia considers the epicenter of COVID-19 in the province.

Of the 30 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Central Visayas as of Sunday night, 20 are from Cebu City.

Meanwhile, the province has three confirmed cases.

Borders Closed

Yesterday, March 30, at 12;01 am, upon the effectivity of the movement restrictions that come with the enhanced community quarantine, the provincial government has also closed its borders on entries and exits to and from Cebu City.

The governor, accompanied by Cebu Provincial Police Office chief Col. Roderick Mariano, inspected the borders during the first hours of the implementation.

A bit of confusion was noted during the inspection, mostly relating to exemptions from the border closure. This was observed during Garcia’s talks with border control officers who have mistakenly allowed the entry of non-essential employees and private vehicles with vehicle passes.

“Well, I think understandable kay first night unya di kaayo klaro unsay tugtan, unsay dili. Ang ako lang hangyo ang tanan ma-assign sa checkpoints, basahon na og maayo,” Garcia said during her assessment.

At the eight borders checked, the governor reminded officers that vehicle passes issued by the local government units from the province are not tantamount to an access pass to enter Cebu City.

Officers must only check for IDs to see if persons who wish to cross the border are part of the exemptions provided by Executive Order No. 5-O.

“Kanang vehicle pass, wa na maghatag nimo og free access nga pwede na ka modiretso kay duna na kay vehicle pass. Kinahanglan nalakip ka sa mga exceptions,” she said.

Garcia also said that the exemptions are bound to be more specific in the next few days.

“I intend nga magkahugot nga magkahugot gyud na… We will get stricter and stricter,” she said.  JMD (FREEMAN)