DILG plays tough on LGUs not following eased travel protocols
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will play it tough with local government units that will not abide by the national government’s policy of easing travel protocols amid the surge in coronavirus infections.
The DILG’s warning came as some governors asked to impose either reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), saliva or antigen test for travelers as a form of protection against transmission of coronavirus amid the easing of travel rules.
DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said on Thursday that the department will release the memorandum circular since some LGUs still don’t comply with the Resolution No. 101 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
“Maglalabas na po ang DILG ng memorandum circular implementing IATF Resolution 101 kasi nga may napansin tayo na may mga LGUs hanggang ngayon na hindi pa rin sumusunod sa IATF resolution,” he said in an online press briefing.
(The DILG will release a memorandum circular implementing IATF Resolution No. 101 because we noticed that until now, some LGUs do not comply with the IATF resolution.)
Under the revised protocols, travel authority and medical certificates are no longer required for travelers. The resolution also states that travelers are no longer required to undergo quarantine unless they exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 upon arrival to their destination. COVID-19 testing is also not mandatory, unless the concerned LGU makes it a requirement.
Malaya said some LGUs were awaiting implementing rules and regulations for the new policies imposed by the IATF.
According to Malaya, the memorandum circular that will be released by the DILG was based on consultations with the League of Cities, League of Provinces, and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.
He warned that the DILG will issue show-cause orders to LGUs that will fail to comply with the IATF resolution once the department releases the memorandum circular.
“Hopefully once that is done, they will immediately comply para hindi na mauwi sa pagfile ng kaso ng DILG (so that the DILG will not resort to file cases against them),” he added.
The memorandum circular is expected to be released this Thursday or Friday, according to Malaya.
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