The Philippine National Police (PNP) is banking on its experience on the past strict border control in Metro Manila to address the monstrous traffic jams that are expected to hit the entry points of the National Capital Region once the Enhanced Community Quarantine is fully implemented.
But this early, PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar also asked patience from the public as long lines of vehicles are expected at the Quarantine Control Points (QCPs) established for the enforcement of a stricter lockdown.
"We initiated some strategies before to address traffic build-up and I am expecting that the same strategies will be implemented once the ECQ implementation starts," said Eleazar, adding that adjustments could be made based on the situation on the ground.
Elleazar was the commander of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield when Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon were placed under ECQ in March last year.
It was the JTF COVID Shield under his leadership which laid down the strategies that include the setting up of what is now called Quarantine Control Points, as well as the Dedicated Control Points to ensure the smooth travel of cargo and trucks delivering essential goods.
One of the strategies implemented by the Eleazar as then JTF COVID Shield commander was allowing all the vehicles to pass the QCPs to ease traffic build-up but these vehicles will be subjected to random checks in mobile checkpoints set up in key areas within Metro Manila.
Border checkpoints were installed at the NCR Plus beginning 12 AM of Sunday, August 1, following the directive from the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Secretary (SILG) Eduardo Año to restrict the movement of the public and to ensure that only essential travel and services as well as the free movement of goods will be allowed.
Eleazar advised the public to prepare, beforehand, the required documents to be presented to police officers manning the QCPs.
"We are also asking for the cooperation of the public to just stay in their house if the travel is not important," said Eleazar.
Metro Manila will be placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine from August 6 to 20 amid the threat posed by the more infectious coronavirus Delta variant.