348 cops, soldiers to help enforce Navotas lockdown

As the whole of Navotas goes on lockdown for two weeks starting tomorrow, July 16, to stop the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), 348 government troops will be sent to the city to help the local police enforce quarantine protocols.

“Our task is to contain the unnecessary movement of people and keep all residents at home except for the medical front-liners and other people who are authorized to go out. The other task is to ensure that Apor (authorized persons outside residence) shall follow the health protocols,” Joint Task Force COVID Shield chief Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said on Tuesday.

He added that he had discussed with Mayor Toby Tiangco “the measures and other strategies that would be enforced” in the city during the lockdown that would be in effect from 5 a.m., July 16 until 11:59 p.m., July 29 .

Eleazar said the 348 government troops were composed of 100 policemen from the Northern Police District Mobile Force Battalion, another 100 from the National Capital Region Police Office, 81 from the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police, 42 from the PNP Maritime Group and 25 soldiers from the Armed Forces’ Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.

Most of the policemen would be in charge of setting up checkpoints and conducting regular patrols, according to Eleazar, who added that the PNP Maritime Group personnel would be deployed to regularly patrol the city’s coastline.

Limit on market goers

Under Tiangco’s Executive Order No. 038 series of 2020 that placed the city under lockdown, enhanced community quarantine restrictions would be in effect, including limiting the number of and assigning a schedule to market goers who would need valid quarantine passes. Residents of Barangays San Rafael Village, North Bay Boulevard South (NBBS) Kaunlaran, Bangkulasi, Bagumbayan South, Navotas East, Sipac Almacen, Daanghari, Tangos North and Tanza 1 would be allowed to go out to buy goods and medicine only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

On the other hand, those from Barangays NBBS Proper, NBBS Dagat-Dagatan, North Bay Boulevard North, Bagumbayan North, Navotas West, San Jose, San Roque, Tangos South and Tanza 2 can do the same on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Those carrying home quarantine passes must present valid ID cards to prove they are the valid holder since the passes are not transferable.

While public markets and grocery stores in the city would be open beyond curfew hours, they would be closed for disinfection on Sundays.

No outside deliveries

Tiangco said that food deliveries from outside Navotas would not be allowed to enter, as he encouraged residents to purchase food from restaurants within the city.Motorists with “no purpose to be in Navotas” were advised to take C4, North Bay Boulevard and C3 roads, as well as Lapu-Lapu Avenue and R10.

There will also be a ban on the consumption and sale of alcoholic beverages and mass gatherings exceeding 10 people.As of Tuesday afternoon, Navotas had 981 positive coronavirus cases, with 64 fatalities and 341 recoveries. INQ