General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), reminded all police commanders to continue to be strict in manning the border control points and inspection of cargo vehicles amid the continuous rise in the cases of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Cascolan said the move is to ensure that policemen would not be too complacent in the implementation of the quarantine rules in relation to the movement of the people that cross the borders of towns and municipalities.
Aside from the workers of industries permitted to operate under the community quarantine, Cascolan said strict procedures must also be applied for those who deliver basic goods via cargo and delivery vehicles.
"On our call to serve the people in this perilous era, we will continue to sustain our checkpoint operations and inspections including all types of cargoes which supply essential goods for all, and those persons who are authorized outside for essential activities," said Cascolan.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) retained the authority of the PNP to conduct inspection procedures in quarantine checkpoints for drivers and helpers and cargo trucks and authorized persons outside residence (APORs).
Based on the IATF Guidelines, only workers in the logistics sector, such as cargo, trucking, courier delivery and port operations shall likewise be allowed to transit across areas placed under any form of community quarantine.
It added that only a maximum of five personnel may operate cargo and delivery vehicles.
Cascolan said the IATF guidelines only allow essential or front-line workers to pass through any community quarantine checkpoints with their passes or pertinent documents.
All local government units have been directed to enjoin their issued executive orders based on the Omnibus Guidelines to better enforce the national measures set by the IATF-EID.
"We are always ready to take to greater heights our services that we can offer to the public and in harmony with the national government to win this battle against the unseen enemy, which is COVID-19," said Cascolan.