MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Saturday that groups who plan to conduct relief operations must secure a certification from their destination’s local government unit so they could pass through quarantine checkpoints.
In the Laging Handa online press briefing, DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya cited reports from Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield commander Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, in which some groups insist on passing through checkpoints using as an excuse their supposed relief operations in nearby areas.
“Ngayon, dahil nga po ginagamit na palusot itong relief operations, minabuti po ni Sec. Eduardo Año na maglabas po ng kautusan na lahat ng mga relief organizations ay kailangan magpakita ng certification galing sa LGU na sila nga ay nakipag-ugnayan na sa LGU para mamigay ng relief goods,” Malaya said.
(Now, because they use these relief operations as an excuse, Sec. Eduardo Año has decided to issue an order that all relief organizations must present a certification from that LGU as proof that they have coordinated with the LGU to distribute the relief goods.)
“Uulitin ko lang po, hindi po pwedeng pumunta diretso sa barangay at mamigay ng relief goods ang ating mga organizations dahil that will violate our policy of stay at home, at the same time, it violates the mass gatherings and social distancing policies of our government,” he added.
(I will reiterate, our organizations cannot go directly to the barangay to distribute relief goods because this will violate our policy of stay at home, at the same time, it violates the mass gatherings and social distancing policies of our government.)
According to Malaya, some people put signages in their vehicles that read “Do not delay” or present themselves as part of a relief organization.
“Dito po sa ganitong klaseng sistema, mas mapapadali rin ‘yung trabaho ng [Philippine National Police] kung makakapagbigay po kayo ng certification coming from your recipient or beneficiary local government unit,” the DILG official added.
(With this system, it would be easier for the Philippine National Police if you present a certificate coming from your recipient or beneficiary local government unit.)
The DILG chief’s order came after six members of the labor party-list group Anakpawis, as well as its former congressional representative, Ariel Casilao, were arrested in Norgazaray, Bulacan, for supposedly violating quarantine protocols as they delivered relief goods in the province without the supposed necessary permit.
Malaya, meanwhile, said Anakpawis members have posted bail.
“Sila po ay nabigyan ng pagkakataong magpaliwanag sa piskal, na-inquest po sila, at sila po ay pinag-piyansa,” he said.
(They were given the opportunity to explain to the fiscal, they underwent inquest and they posted bail.)