Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) — Trips involving medical and family emergencies within Metro Manila or one’s respective province do not require travel authority from the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, the body clarified on Sunday.
“While the quarantine rules are still strict under GCQ, we also operate under the concept of compassion even before,” said Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año. “This is the reason why we are finding ways to make it easier for people to travel if that travel is really essential, especially if it involves family emergency.”
READ: More areas under GCQ from June 1-15
In Friday’s Laging Handa virtual briefing, only APOR (authorized persons outside residence) workers have been mentioned by Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield commander PLt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar as individuals authorized to cross borders, whether city, municipality, or provincial, because they are either going to or coming from work.
READ: Crossing borders still not allowed under GCQ except for work purposes — Eleazar
The DILG had also said previously that workers in firms already allowed to operate need not secure travel authority in order to be allowed past checkpoints. They may only present their company ID or certificate of employment to the police, who will let them through should they see the workers’ firms in the list of establishments permitted to resume operations.
Trips involving two provinces would already require travel authority from the JTF COVID Shield, it said. This also applies to locally stranded individuals who wish to return to their respective hometowns, added Año.
How to acquire travel authority
According to the task force, a medical clearance certificate is necessary for the issuance of travel authority.
In order to get the said certificate, one must first acquire a certification from their respective barangay captain that they have not developed any symptoms of COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to the travel request.
“The Certification from the Punong Barangay will serve as an endorsement to the City and Municipal Health Office to conduct medical examination,” the task force said. From there, the local health office shall issue them a medical clearance certificate.
This certificate may either be submitted to the barangay captain, who will then facilitate the processing of travel authority including the coordination with the local government of the targeted destination, or to the help desk of the municipal or police station.
“Personnel of the Help Desk, under the authority of the Chief of Police will be in charge of the processing which includes coordination with the LGU of destination through the local police station,” said the JTF COVID Shield.
Police personnel manning the help desk shall notify the individual that the hard copy of their travel authority is ready for pickup. The document could also be sent via e-mail or messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger or Viber, the task force explained.
In today’s statement, Eleazar reiterated that help desks are available in all police stations nationwide, particularly to assist locally stranded individuals.
“Unnecessary” travels like buying goods outside one’s locality still prohibited
However, similar to what Eleazar said on Friday, availing of essential goods outside one’s locality remains a violation of quarantine protocols under GCQ as it is considered part of unnecessary travels, reminded Año.
With this, the DILG chief encouraged purchasing such products in stores within their communities.
“In this way, you are not only helping the economy in your community but also protecting yourself from the risk of coronavirus infection. So we appeal to the Filipino people to continue avoiding unnecessary travels,” he said.
