Medical certificate, travel authority needed by traveling stranded individuals -- DILG
By Chito A. Chavez
Despite repeated public advisories, a number of locally stranded individuals (LSI) have remained unaware of the procedure needed in order for them to return to their home provinces.
With these circumstances, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday noted that a stranded individual who wants to go to his hometown must first secure a medical certification at the city/municipal health office where he is currently staying.
DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said that the medical certificate will prove that the applicant is not a health risk in this time of the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).
In the event the applicant is previously COVID-19 positive, Malaya said the individual must already be negative for the virus after being subjected to two tests.
Malaya said that the medical certificate should also indicate the exact place where the individual is headed to.
He noted the medical certificate is the number one requirement of the "receiving" local government unit.
However, Malaya explained that it is up to the receiving LGU if the individual will still be placed under home quarantine upon arrival at the locality.
He warned that it will only be a waste of time for the individual to travel without the medical certificate as the receiving LGU will not allow them to enter the locality without that requirement.
After acquiring the medical certificate, Malaya said the individual must secure the travel authority from the police that will allow them to pass through certain quarantine control points.
If an individual will travel from one town to another, Malaya said that the provincial director will issue the travel authority while the regional director will be the one to issue it if a person will go from one province to another.
If the travel is from one region to another, the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame must issue the travel authority.
Malaya said the LGUs or the nearest police station may process the travel authority depending on the choice of the applicant.
He noted that the purpose of the travel will be assessed by the police.