Checkpoints to remain in Puerto Princesa City

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY –– The border and inner-city checkpoints will remain in full force even after the community quarantine is lifted in this city on May 15.

Councilor Victor Oliveros, majority floor leader of the City Council, said in a phone interview Tuesday, that the border control measures pushed by the local legislative body would “stay on a certain level.”

“We are not ready to open our borders, for example, our airport for commercial (flights), seaports, and other points of entry,” Oliveros said.

He also pointed out that the borders were enforced to make sure that “we are not giving opportunity for the virus to come in.” He cited that a possible surge of people going in-and-out of the city may give rise to an increased threat in public health.

No clear date on when the border controls would be lifted was announced as it will depend on the availability of a vaccine, explained Oliveros.

Lt. Col. Alonso Tabi Jr., deputy director for operations of the Puerto Princesa police, said in an earlier statement, that four border checkpoints were designated at the onset of the enhanced community quarantine.

These are in Barangay Inagawan (south), Napsan (southwest), Langogan (north), and Macarascas (northwest).

LZB