MANILA – Following reports of more vehicles plying main thoroughfares despite the ongoing enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon, the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Disease is looking at observing stricter checkpoints.
IATF spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said President Rodrigo Duterte has tasked the policemen manning checkpoints to implement a stricter screening process to check if travelers are allowed out of their homes.
On Tuesday, there was an influx of vehicles travelling along South Luzon Expressway, while the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority reported an increase in vehicles plying EDSA.
Among the measures to be implemented by Highway Patrol officers starting Wednesday are the following:
* Inspection of private vehicles to determine whether the driver and passengers belong to the list of authorized persons outside of residence or not.
* If the driver or any of the passenger is unauthorized, authorities will issue tickets against drivers of private vehicles transporting persons who are unauthorized to be out of their homes.
The government only allows healthcare workers, frontliners, and other essential workers to go out of their homes. Each household meanwhile should only have a representative to buy food and basic needs.
“Sana po intindihin natin na magiging effective lang itong ECQ sa pag-contain ng coronavirus disease 2019 kung tayo ay hindi basta-basta na lang nakakaikot at nakakalabas,” Nograles said./PN
