Checkpoints to stay even in low-risk COVID-19 areas

Philippine National Police Deputy Chief for Operations PLtGen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar inspects Metro Manila Community Quarantine Checkpoints at the boundary of Meycauayan, Bulucan and Malanday, Valenzuela City, March 16, 2020.
Niño Jesus Orbeta/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Quarantine control points (QCPs) will remain even as quarantine measures were lifted in some low-risk COVID-19 areas due to the minimum health requirements imposed by the government, an official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday.

“Tuloy-tuloy po ang checkpoint dahil maaaring GCQ (general community quarantine) man, low risk or moderate areas, meron tayong pinapatupad na minimum health requirements na ‘yan po ay nangangailangan ng PNP para ipatupad,” Major Gen. Emmanuel Luis Licup, chief of PNP Directorate for Operations, said in an online press briefing when asked about changes in checkpoint enforcement for moderate, low-risk areas.

(Checkpoints are still implemented because even if there are GCQ, low-risk areas or moderate areas, we have minimum health requirements that need to be implemented by the PNP.)

“Ang PNP at ibang ahesya kamukha ng Armed Forces of Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, at Bureau of Fire Protection, sama-sama sa Joint Task Force para ipatupad ang mga QCP or quarantine control points,” he added.

(The PNP and other agencies such as Armed Forces of Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, at Bureau of Fire Protection are included in the Joint Task Force to implement QCP or quarantine control points.)

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque earlier announced that some areas would not be placed under general community quarantine or enhanced community quarantine after May 15. However, he said minimum health standards such as social distancing, good hygiene and temperature checks should be in place as there is still no cure for the respiratory ailment.

Meanwhile, Roque also announced that the government also placed Metro Manila, Laguna province, and Cebu City under a modified enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until May 31. He also said some industries will be allowed to resume operations but in a limited capacity.

Licup said the PNP will send teams to inspect industries that will be allowed to reopen to make sure that health protocols are enforced as a precautionary measure against COVID-19.

“Magtatalaga rin tayo ng mga tauhan upang ipadala sa mga establishments to ensure ang compliance lalo na yung mga malls na magbubukas dahil bukas na yung non-essentials although non-leisure,” he said.

(We will assign police officers who will be sent to establishments to ensure that  compliance especially for malls that will open because some non-essentials, although non-leisure, will be opened.)