[ad_1]
HIGHWAY CHECKPOINT Highway Patrol Group police officers review the licenses and quarantine passes of motorists passing Edsa on Wednesday as authorities squeeze private vehicles traveling amid the blockade of Luzon. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines —After empty roads in Metro Manila began to fill up again with private vehicles despite the closure of the entire Luzon, authorities said on Wednesday they would establish checkpoints to verify if these motorists were violating community quarantine guidelines. Enhanced (ECQ).
Commander of Joint Task Force (JTF) Shield Covid Shield, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, said the Philippine National Police (HPG) Highway Patrol Group would be in charge of the points mobile control systems that would be installed on the main roads.
The PNP-HPG headed by Police Brig. General Eliseo Cruz Jr. would coordinate closely with the Manila Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA) to verify if the driver or passenger in the private vehicle was among those authorized outside the residence (Apor).
If determined to be in violation of the ECQ, drivers will be issued a traffic violation ticket from the MMDA or the Office of Ground Transportation. They would be fined and their licenses confiscated.
Clear violation
“We would like to emphasize that this is a clear violation of the rules of domestic quarantine and social distancing. Again, we are reminding our compatriots that we will arrest him because this is prohibited under ECQ guidelines, ”said Eleazar. “We need to do this. We must be very strict against these violators.”
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, spokesperson for the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, said the move was taken after officials noticed an increase in the number of vehicles on the streets despite the ECQ to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“To address this, and the reported increase in the number of vehicles traveling along Edsa and major highways in Metro Manila, and by order of the President, the PNP will strictly enforce the policy on Apor,” Nograles said at a conference. televised.
Under the above guidelines, Apor included health workers, members of the state security forces, emergency personnel, the media, delivery personnel, and employees of establishments that provide essential services such as public markets, supermarkets, restaurants, pharmacies , public services and banks.
People are also allowed, but limited to one per household, making use of the services offered by these establishments. Nograles appealed to the understanding and cooperation of the people, saying that everything was “being done … to prevent the spread of the virus. We call on everyone to cooperate and, as far as possible, to stay at home “.
‘City-hopping ‘discouraged
“Jumping into the city” could be used as a motive to stop motorists, said MMDA traffic researcher Zar, Bong Nebrija.
“What is the need for that …? Most essential things are within walking distance of residential areas,” he said. “This reckless behavior would lead people to the misperception that they need a car to get around. That is not true.”
From March 17 to April 14, JTF Covid Shield arrested 114,972 people across the country for violating ECQ guidelines. Of the total, 27,391 were arrested and charged.
The Philippines has reported more than 5,000 cases of COVID-19, many of them in Metro Manila. —With a report from Krixia Subingsubing
For more news on the new coronavirus, click here.
What you need to know about the coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
Read below
EDITOR’S SELECTION
MOST READ
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to gain access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and over 70 other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download from 4 a.m. and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For comments, complaints or inquiries, contact us.
[ad_2]
