Gov’t eases travel restrictions between GCQ, MGCQ areas

This file photo shows a resident riding her bicycle past armed soldiers along a street in Navotas in suburban Manila on July 16, 2020, after the local government reimposed a lockdown in the city due to increased COVID-19 infections. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s COVID-19 task force has allowed travel between general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ areas – including those who are not in the list of authorized persons outside of residence (APOR), Malacañang said Friday.

“The inter-zonal movement of persons not authorized outside of residences (non-APOR) between areas placed under general community quarantine or modified general community quarantine for any purpose shall be permitted, subject to the reasonable regulations imposed by the LGU concerned, or in the case of Boracay Island, subject to those imposed by the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

The age restriction for individuals authorized to leave their residences was also eased by the government.

Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases,  also updated the list of APORs by including returning or repatriated overseas Filipino workers.

Other APORs include employees of business sectors allowed to resume operations, medical personnel, delivery personnel, and the like.

The IATF also encouraged LGUs to exclude workers, APORs, and necessary establishments from curfew restrictions.

Further, it urged LGUs to standardize curfew rules and relax curfew hours as part of the gradual reopening of the economy.

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