ILOILO – Checkpoints in strategic locations across this province are greeting travelers today, all set to scrutinize passes before letting them cross boundaries.
Except for drivers and crews of Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) and emergency cases, people must present travel passes at checkpoints until June 18 (unless extended). The province is limiting public mobility due to the rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) here.
As to preparations of Iloilo’s 43 local government units (LGUs), “tanan all set na,” said San Enrique’s Mayor Mediatrix Rosario Fernandez, president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) – Iloilo chapter.
The LGUs are joining forces with the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).
On Wednesday, local chief executives (LCEs) and other authorized personnel started issuing travel passes to:
* authorized persons outside residence (APORs) from national government agencies and other government offices/corporations – government travel pass
* non-government APORs (APORs working in the private sector) – company/employer travel pass (non-working days shall require special company/employer travel pass)
* other APORs working or doing business in other livelihood sectors (e.g. agriculture and fisheries sectors) – LGU travel pass from the municipal/city mayor
The municipal/city mayor may delegate the issuance of LGU travel pass to the punong barangay.
The travel passes shall contain the following data:
a. name of government office / LGU / company / employer;
b. office / company / employer address and contact number;
c. name of employee;
d. position of employee;
e. address of employee;
f. purpose of travel;
g. name and signature of issuing officer;
h. travel pass number;
i. date of issue; and
j. validity date
“We, LCEs, have to be strict in implementing border checkpoints to make sure no non-essential traveler would breach every town. We don’t want to waste ours and the police’s effort,” Fernandez told Panay News.
Fernandez sees this measure as an effective one especially, pointing out that several towns have a notable uptick in COVID-19 cases.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. pointed out non-essential travel as reason for the surge in local transmission.
“We continue to appeal for their support kay maski ano pa ‘ni ka effort sang aton mga leaders sa probinsya, kabanwahanan kag kabarangayan kon indi kita pagsuportaran, all our efforts will be put to waste,” said Fernandez.
She added: “The success of our campaign against the threat of COVID-19 depends highly on the support and cooperation sang aton mga pumoluyo kay ti sin-o man gusto sini subong… nobody wants to be in this situation but we have no choice but fight and sacrifice.”
IPPO, BRGY OFFICIALS ON THEIR POSTS
Meanwhile, Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, IPPO director, said local police stations and barangay officials are ready to man checkpoints.
According to Gorero, two kinds of checkpoints would be put up.
First, the provincial boarder points located in the boundaries of Antique, Capiz and Iloilo City. These checkpoints will be overseen by IPPO personnel and barangay officials (boundary barangays) plus an augmentation from the Philippine Army.
“We have to make sure that all people entering here have essential transactions like work, medication, or they are APORs,” said Gorero.
He explained: “Pangitaon ta ang documents relating to their transactions like for example pakilala sia nga APOR… they have to show their identification card. For those ambulance drivers, no need for travel passes including PUVS… However, kon ang purpose cannot be considered as essential, they cannot enter the province.”
Municipal quarantine checkpoints are also being readied.
Those manning these checkpoints will see to it that people exiting the LGU have secured their travel passes.
Gorero, however, clarified that a travel pass isn’t needed if the traveler got transactions only within the municipality.
Meanwhile, returning residents and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) shall be allowed to travel to the province.
Returning residents shall be required any of the following government identification (ID) cards:
* Voter’s ID Card issued by the Commission on Elections;
* Philippine Passport;
* Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) Card;
* Postal ID Card;
* Tax Identification Number (TIN) Card; or
* any government issued ID showing proof of residence./PN
