BACOLOD City – The provincial government here has imposed additional health requirements for authorized persons outside residence (APORs) entering this province as part of the measures to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson in his Executive Order 20-33 released on Wednesday said there is a need to regulate APORs by setting up additional health and safety protocols before granting them entry to this province.
“APORs enjoy the privilege of unrestricted movement throughout the duration of community quarantine status. However, APORs have become carriers of COVID-19, thereby heightening the risk in this province,” he added.
According to Lacson, the provincial government is adopting a set of guidelines that will cover the movement of APORs as they avail themselves of the privileges accorded them.
They will be categorized as APOR on Official Business (OB), Emergency Travel (ET) or Indispensable Travel (IT), and Travel Not Work-Related.
Those on OB must present a certificate of work schedule indicating the number of days of stay in this province; medical certificate issued on the date of travel by a government physician; certificate of employment and employee’s identification card (ID) for workers in private companies or institutions; employee’s ID for government officials and employees; mission order, letter order, or special order for the uniformed services; travel order for government officials and employees; and ID for volunteers working in humanitarian organizations.
Those on ET or IT must submit a travel authority issued by the Philippine National Police; certificate for reasons of ET or IT indicating the number of days of stay in this province; medical certificate issued on the date of travel by a government physician; certificate of employment and employee’s ID for workers in private companies or institutions; employee’s ID for government officials and employees; and ID for volunteers working humanitarian in organizations.
If the stay is less than 14 days, the APOR on ET or IT shall not be allowed to go out from his or her place of residence and shall be required to undergo strict home quarantine protocols for the duration of the stay.
After the APOR goes back to his or her work station, their family members shall continue to undergo home quarantine to complete the 14-day standard period, which shall be monitored by the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team.
The APORs, either on OB, ET or IT, are required to notify this province through their local agencies or offices of the nature of their travel. They shall be required to comply with the usual screening procedures and fill out health declaration and locator forms.
For APORs whose purpose of travel is not work-related, the general guidelines on the local health and safety protocols of this province shall apply. (With a report from PNA/PN)
