Inter-city travel for ‘consumer APORs’ not allowed under ECQ, says Eleazar

(FILE) Shoppers queue in line outside a grocery store in San Juan City. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Eleazar on Wednesday said “consumer” Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs) in Metro Manila are not allowed to travel between cities for grocery or market runs during the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

“Pag nagkaroon na tayo ng ECQ, ‘yung dating malaking bubble, parang magiging mga indivudual bubbles, bawat city, mga tiny bubbles na yan,” Eleazar said over Teleradyo.

(Once we are under ECQ, the previous big bubble will be like individual bubbles now. Every city will become tiny bubbles.)

“Ngayon yung isang APOR, yung consumer APOR, ito ‘yung isa sa bawat household na bibigyan sila ng quarantine pass sa barangay, lalabas sila para bumili,” Eleazar added. “Hindi ka pwede magcross ng border ‘nung mga city. So meaning to say, halimbawa, taga Pasay ka, hindi ka pwede pumunta ng Quezon City, pumunta ng Caloocan para bumili ng grocery.”

(So now, a consumer APOR, or those who have quarantine passes who could buy provisions outside, can’t cross the border of the cities. So meaning to say, for example, you are from Pasay, you could not cross to Quezon City, or Caloocan to buy groceries.)

Eleazar, however, explained that “working” APORs are allowed to travel between cities, as long as they have valid IDs. Those who will be crossing borders for “medical and humanitarian reasons” are likewise exempted.

Malacañang announced that Metro Manila would be placed under ECQ from August 6 to 20 to help contain the spread of the more transmissible COVID-19 Delta variant.

/MUF