DILG orders PNP to set up help desks for travel authority issuance
Published May 23, 2020 12:00 am
By Chito Chavez
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to set up help desks in all police stations in the country to assist locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) during the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (Philippine Information Agency / MANILA BULLETIN)
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año explained that the help desks in the municipal, city, provincial, and regional police stations and offices are tasked to process applications for travel authorities of the stranded individuals who wish to return to their residence.
These people were stranded in various parts of the country after being placed on community quarantine.
Año stressed the creation of help desks is provided under the operational guidelines on the management of LSIs and ROFs issued by the National Task Force Against COVID-19.
Under the guidelines, Año said a stranded individual must secure a medical certificate from the municipal or city health office and a travel authority from the PNP before being allowed to travel.
"Gusto nating bigyan ng pagkakataon na magkasama na ang mga nagkahiwalay na pamilya dahil sa quarantine. So para mapabilis ang proseso, inaatasan ko ang PNP na magtalaga ng help desk sa lahat ng police stations sa buong bansa (We would like to give them a chance to be with their families after being away due to quarantine guidelines. To expedite the process, Iam instructing the PNP to provide help desks in all the police stations in the country),” Año said.
He asserted “that only those with medical certificates from the LGU can apply for a Travel Authority with the PNP help desks’’.
Año noted that the LSIs include foreign nationals or Filipino citizens like construction and domestic workers, tourists, students, and other individuals stranded in various localities while in transit and who have expressed intention to return to their place of residence or home origin.
On the other hand, Año ssid ROFs refer to Filipinos who are returning to the Philippines from abroad.
He said that they include Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), whether documented or non-documented and non-OFWs.
The DILG chief said the ROFs include returning students, exchange visitor's program, returning Filipino diplomats, returning Filipino tourists, participants of Philippine government-sponsored programs such as training and scholarships, and dependents and accompanying foreign spouses.
Under the guidelines, Año said that the chief of police is responsible for issuing travel authorities to LSIs/ROFs from a barangay moving to another barangay belonging to the same municipality.
He added that the travel authority shall be issued by the Provincial Police Director for LSIs/ROFs from a town municipality or city moving to another municipality/city of a different province.
The Police Regional Director shall grant travel authorities for LSIs/ROFs from a province going to another province, and from a region to another region.
Before issuing a travel authority, Año said, “the LSI or ROF should present a medical clearance/certificate issued by the city/municipal health office that he/she is neither a contact, suspect, probable, or confirmed Covid-19 case, and has completed the 14-day quarantine’’.
He said that the medical clearance shall be presented to the PNP help desks, at all checkpoints, and at the LGU of final destination.
As for ROFs, Año said they should present a travel authority issued by the Joint Task Force COVID (JTF CV) Shield and a negative reverse time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) result and quarantine certification issued by the DOH's Bureau of Quarantine at Quarantine Control Points (QCPs) or upon entry at the receiving LGU.
Año said the requirement of the certificate of acceptance of the receiving LGU is no longer required because the travel authority and the list of LSIs and ROFs shall already be forwarded to the receiving LGUs for their ready reference.
For inquiries regarding guidelines for LSIs and ROFs, the public may get in touch with the PNP Command Center through 09988490013 for Smart users and 09175382495 for Globe subscribers.
Role of LGUs
In DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-087, provincial governors are urged to organize their 'Management of ROFs and LSIs Sub-Cluster' under the Local Task Force (LTF) against COVID 19 Governance Cluster.
Governors will endorse the list of LSls to the Regional Task Force (RTF) for further action and possible assistance.
They would also provide the necessary assistance to the component city or municipality in transporting or receiving ROFs and LSIs.
"Local chief executives are reminded that they should not deny the entry or transit of all ROFs and LSIs but may, in coordination with the RTF, establish its health protocols for ROFs and LSIs that are consistent with Interagency Task Force (IATF) policies," said Año
He noted that the LGUs should provide the necessary assistance, such as food and transportation support to ROFs and LSIs.
"The government understands the plight of the LSIs and ROFs that they are displaced from their home provinces amid this crisis. It is only right under human consideration that they are assisted in going home to their families while we ensure safety health protocols," Año concluded.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (Philippine Information Agency / MANILA BULLETIN)
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año explained that the help desks in the municipal, city, provincial, and regional police stations and offices are tasked to process applications for travel authorities of the stranded individuals who wish to return to their residence.
These people were stranded in various parts of the country after being placed on community quarantine.
Año stressed the creation of help desks is provided under the operational guidelines on the management of LSIs and ROFs issued by the National Task Force Against COVID-19.
Under the guidelines, Año said a stranded individual must secure a medical certificate from the municipal or city health office and a travel authority from the PNP before being allowed to travel.
"Gusto nating bigyan ng pagkakataon na magkasama na ang mga nagkahiwalay na pamilya dahil sa quarantine. So para mapabilis ang proseso, inaatasan ko ang PNP na magtalaga ng help desk sa lahat ng police stations sa buong bansa (We would like to give them a chance to be with their families after being away due to quarantine guidelines. To expedite the process, Iam instructing the PNP to provide help desks in all the police stations in the country),” Año said.
He asserted “that only those with medical certificates from the LGU can apply for a Travel Authority with the PNP help desks’’.
Año noted that the LSIs include foreign nationals or Filipino citizens like construction and domestic workers, tourists, students, and other individuals stranded in various localities while in transit and who have expressed intention to return to their place of residence or home origin.
On the other hand, Año ssid ROFs refer to Filipinos who are returning to the Philippines from abroad.
He said that they include Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), whether documented or non-documented and non-OFWs.
The DILG chief said the ROFs include returning students, exchange visitor's program, returning Filipino diplomats, returning Filipino tourists, participants of Philippine government-sponsored programs such as training and scholarships, and dependents and accompanying foreign spouses.
Under the guidelines, Año said that the chief of police is responsible for issuing travel authorities to LSIs/ROFs from a barangay moving to another barangay belonging to the same municipality.
He added that the travel authority shall be issued by the Provincial Police Director for LSIs/ROFs from a town municipality or city moving to another municipality/city of a different province.
The Police Regional Director shall grant travel authorities for LSIs/ROFs from a province going to another province, and from a region to another region.
Before issuing a travel authority, Año said, “the LSI or ROF should present a medical clearance/certificate issued by the city/municipal health office that he/she is neither a contact, suspect, probable, or confirmed Covid-19 case, and has completed the 14-day quarantine’’.
He said that the medical clearance shall be presented to the PNP help desks, at all checkpoints, and at the LGU of final destination.
As for ROFs, Año said they should present a travel authority issued by the Joint Task Force COVID (JTF CV) Shield and a negative reverse time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) result and quarantine certification issued by the DOH's Bureau of Quarantine at Quarantine Control Points (QCPs) or upon entry at the receiving LGU.
Año said the requirement of the certificate of acceptance of the receiving LGU is no longer required because the travel authority and the list of LSIs and ROFs shall already be forwarded to the receiving LGUs for their ready reference.
For inquiries regarding guidelines for LSIs and ROFs, the public may get in touch with the PNP Command Center through 09988490013 for Smart users and 09175382495 for Globe subscribers.
Role of LGUs
In DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-087, provincial governors are urged to organize their 'Management of ROFs and LSIs Sub-Cluster' under the Local Task Force (LTF) against COVID 19 Governance Cluster.
Governors will endorse the list of LSls to the Regional Task Force (RTF) for further action and possible assistance.
They would also provide the necessary assistance to the component city or municipality in transporting or receiving ROFs and LSIs.
"Local chief executives are reminded that they should not deny the entry or transit of all ROFs and LSIs but may, in coordination with the RTF, establish its health protocols for ROFs and LSIs that are consistent with Interagency Task Force (IATF) policies," said Año
He noted that the LGUs should provide the necessary assistance, such as food and transportation support to ROFs and LSIs.
"The government understands the plight of the LSIs and ROFs that they are displaced from their home provinces amid this crisis. It is only right under human consideration that they are assisted in going home to their families while we ensure safety health protocols," Año concluded.