PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Sunday reminded his men to ensure the free movement of cargo vans or trucks carrying essential goods as policemen manning Quarantine Control Points tightened their border measures in NCR Plus.

The top cop also reminded the public that there are only two Authorized Person Outside Residence (APORs) who will be allowed entry into the National Capital Region— the essential workers or Workforce APORs and the Consumer APORs.

Workforce APORs are those whose companies, businesses or industries they work in are allowed to operate under the ECQ while the Consumer APORs are those allowed to go out to avail of the services of the businesses, he explained.

“Ang workforce APORs at ang consumer APORs ay pinapayagan na lumabas at pumasok sa Kalakhang Maynila bilang parte ng pagbalanse ng ekonomiya ng ating bansa,” said the PNP chief.

According to Gen. Eleazar, police will only allow APORs to pass if they present their IATF identification cards issued by regulatory agencies and valid IDs or pertinent documentation issued by establishments allowed to operate under the current quarantine status.

On Saturday, Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Eduardo M. Año tasked the Joint Task Force COVD Shield headed by PNP Deputy Chief for Operations, Lieutenant Gen. Israel Ephraim T. Dickson to start the stricter border control in NCR Plus in Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal provinces.

“Bilang tugon sa kautusan ng ating SILG Eduardo Año, kinausap ko na ang JTF COVID Shield Commander, ang NCRPO Director at iba pang commanders para sa pagpapa-igting ng ating checkpoints. Ito ay paghahanda na rin natin sa nalalapit na implementasyon ng ECQ sa Metro Manila,” said Gen. Eleazar.

“We should also ensure the free passage of cargo or delivery vehicles transporting essential items such as food supplies. Kailangan ito upang hindi matigil ang dating ng suplay ng mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.

Metro Manila will be under Enhanced Community Quarantine from August 6 to August 20 as part of the measures to contain the spread of the virus amid the rising number of cases of virulent Delta variant. NCRPO director, Major Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. said they are fully prepared to enforce the ECQ strictly.

Napakalaki ng perwisyong idinulot ng Delta variant sa mga bansang unang tinamaan nito kaya mahalaga ang bawat oras para tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan. Sa panig ng PNP, patuloy kaming magiging kabahagi sa pagtupad ng aming mandato na tiyakin ang protekson ng bawat Pilipino subalit ang tagumpay ng layuning ito ay nakasalalay din sa pang-unawa, respeto at pakikipag-tulungan ng ating mga kababayan,” Gen. Eleazar.

Humihingi rin tayo ng kooperasyon sa ating mga kababayan na sana ay maging sulit ang paghihirap o sakripisyo na ating gagawin para ma-realize natin ang ating objective na ma-control ang virus, particularly itong Delta variant,” he added.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon