No quarantine pass required for APORs in Puerto Princesa

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY –– Mayor Lucilo Bayron ordered the village chiefs to stop the issuance of the quarantine pass for allowed persons outside their residence (APOR), and requested the Philippine National Police (PNP) to allow APOR’s passage at the city checkpoints with the presentation of only a valid identification.

Bayron, in a memorandum order issued Saturday, said APORs are not required to present the quarantine pass in checkpoints during their travel within the city citing that these persons were allowed to be outside during the general community quarantine (GCQ) as set by the laws, rules, and guidelines issued by the national inter-agency task force (IATF).

“Under the new normal provision, the presentation of the following is enough: driver’s license, employment or company ID, or any valid identification card with a picture bearing personal information such as name, age, gender, and date of birth,” Bayron said in the order.

This, after several barangay officials have drawn heat from Palaweño Facebook users criticizing the lack of physical distancing, a minimum health requirement during GCQ, at the village halls for the issuance of the said pass.

Bayron’s move was an affirmation of presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s pronouncement after the national IATF was flagged with similar reports from different local government units under GCQ.

Those who are required only the quarantine pass are workers in industries allowed to operate during GCQ, who are aged between 18 to 20; senior citizens (60 years old and above) who are still employed and part of the allowed sector; and other persons who, “under reasonable circumstances,” must be issued such a pass.

Bayron, in a press briefing Thursday, told the village chiefs that policies may be changed from time to time as instructions from the national government come in installments.

“[Our GCQ policies are based on what] we see in media, social media, and being sent by different allied organizations and associations. What we talk about here is based on the information we gather. They may change based on announcements from the national government,” Bayron said.

LZB