CEBU, Philippines — Residents of Cebu Province who are working in Cebu City must acquire a Work Travel Pass (WTP) from their respective local government units (LGU) to be able to go home to their towns.
In an advisory that Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has issued yesterday to all the mayors of the Municipalities and Component Cities in Cebu Province, workers in Cebu City "may be allowed re-entry into the territorial jurisdiction of the Province tentatively effective on 12:01 am of August 10, 2020.
Workers can apply for a WTP through the WeTrace application that can be downloaded through their mobile devices.
"Local Government Units shall be provided with a WeTrace Platform where they can process WTP application online," read the advisory.
On the online application, the worker is required to present his medical certificate, company ID, updated certificate of employment and 1x1 or 2x2 ID picture.
Once approved, the LGU where the worker resides will issue the applicant a 'point-to-point' WTP.
"The WTP shall only be released to the worker after he or she downloads the WeTrace App in his or her mobile phone and allows the LGU to tag his or her QR Code" the advisory read.
The Capitol will provide a template of the WTP where in the name of the LGU, name and photo of the worker, signature of the mayor, company name, point of origin and point of destination and the signature of the Vice Mayor including the Municipal or City Administrator must be clearly stated.
The list of workers issued a WTP by the LGU will be forwarded to the office of the governor.
The advisory also said that authorized shuttle services shall be provided by companies whose workers are residing in the Province.
As a response, the LGUs of Minglanilla and Consolacion will start issuing the WTP this week.
Consolacion Mayor Joannes Alegado said the governor has raised her concern regarding the workers from Cebu City who have to go back daily to their respective home towns.
When Cebu City was first placed under General Community Quarantine last June 1 to June 15, the number of COVID-19 cases in the towns and cities of Cebu province reportedly spiked.
The governor said she does not want this to happen again.
As much as possible, Alegado said, they encouraged those workers or their employers to look for a place in the city for them to stay in so that they would not have to go home daily and avoid bringing virus to their houses.
"Dapat ang holder ana nga point to point pass ang sistema ra gyud kay work-home-work dili kay home to work then mangompra ka, mohapit pa ka og mall so dili pwede. That pass would be a reminder to the holder nga he or she has the responsibility of disciplining himself nga dili siya morisgo sa uban," Alegado said.
Mayor Elanito Peña of Minglanilla said they would not also want that their cases in the town to spike again.
Peña said they will start issuing the pass this week so that it can be used by the workers by Monday.
Meanwhile, Peña also issued an order requiring municipal hall workers displaying symptoms of COVID-19 to undergo testing. Those who will turn positive must undergo quarantine. Employees of the Municipal Hall must also get clearance from the Municipal Health Officer before they can resume to work.
The Minglanilla Municipal Hall will be temporarily closed starting today until Friday for disinfection. - GAN (FREEMAN)