Photo courtesy of Ilocos Norte provincial government
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership has appealed to Filipinos who are beginning to take more leisurely trips to remain vigilant against COVID-19.
According to PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, he issued this reminder after getting reports that distancing measures and other health protocols meant to avoid COVID-19 transmissions had not been observed at areas of public convergence like the dolomite beach in Manila Bay.
Eleazar said they understand that people are yearning to go out, but doing so irresponsibly might lead to a new surge, necessitating new lockdowns.
“Paulit-ulit ang ating paalala sa publiko na mahigpit na sumunod sa minimum health standards lalo na kung nasa pampublikong lugar o pasyalan gaya ng Dolomite Beach,” Eleazar said in a statement on Thursday.
(We have repeatedly reminded the public to continue the strict observance of minimum health standards, especially if they are visiting public areas or places of leisure like Dolomite Beach.)
“Nauunawaan ko ang kagustuhan ng ating mga kababayan na makalabas ng kanilang mga tahanan, subalit kung hindi tayo mag-iingat ay hindi malabong tumaas na naman ang kaso ng COVID-19 at mapilitan na naman ang gobyerno na maghigpit sa mga protocols,” he added.
(I understand the desire of Filipinos to move outside their homes, but if we would not be careful and responsible, seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases and the government being forced to put more strict quarantine protocols are not far-fetched possibilities.)
In response to the reports, Eleazar said he had tasked the police units to ensure that a sufficient number of police officers are deployed in public areas like Manila Bay, parks, malls, and other places of leisure to avoid the crowding and disregard of health protocols.
“Inatasan ko na ang ating unit commanders na siguraduhin na sapat ang bilang ng ating kapulisan sa mga pampublikong lugar upang matiyak ang pagsunod sa minimum public health safety na siya din namang ipinapakiusap sa ating ng Department of Health ,” he noted.
(I have tasked our unit commanders to ensure that there is a sufficient number of police officers in public spaces so that they can see that the minimum public health safety protocols, which have been asked of us by the Department of Health, are being enforced.)
Last October 13, quarantine restrictions over Metro Manila were eased as government agencies observed lower COVID-19 cases, after the Delta variant-led surge last August and September.
READ: Metro Manila alert level lowered to 3 starting Oct. 16 until Oct. 31
However, there were also reports of crowding and disregard of health protocols in many places of convergence last weekend, with people flocking to public areas like the dolomite beach, the Marikina River Park, the Quirino Grandstand, and the Mall of Asia grounds.
READ: Manila Bay’s ‘Dolomite Beach’ reopens to public on first day of alert level 3
On Monday, Eleazar said they would deploy more police officers to observe safety protocols. Then on Wednesday, it was reported that 36,758 individuals had already violated quarantine rules since Metro Manila was placed under a less-restrictive Alert Level 3.
READ: Eleazar deploys more cops in NCR amid shift to less restrictive quarantine
READ: PNP: 36,758 violated quarantine rules since NCR placed on Alert Level 3
Despite his orders, Eleazar reminded police officers to observe still maximum tolerance regarding people caught violating health protocols.