DILG: Secure permits from LGUs before relief operations
Published Apr 25, 2020 12:00 am
By Chito Chavez
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya on Saturday said that groups should first secure a certification from the local government units (LGUs) before conducting any form of relief operations in areas under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya,
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN) Malaya said the already agonizing situation on the checkpoints with the long queues of traffic is further aggravated by errant groups making “palusot (flimsy excuse)’’ that their travel is legitimate due to the supposed relief operations. The report from Lt. General Eleazar Giant Task Force COVID SHIELD chief revealed that traffic is stalled numerous times due to the presence of the rows of vehicles with tarpaulins pasted on them bearing their conduct of relief operations. Police and military personnel have received intense criticism that condemned them for being inept that resulted into heavy gridlocks at the checkpoints. Eleazar appealed for public understanding for the temporary inconvenience stressing that traffic flow will be unhampered after the checkpoints. “This only means that we are doing our job. Please bear in mind the great difficulty of the men and women manning the checkpoint in ensuring law and order. We are all in this one of leveling the plateau of COVID-19,’’ Eleazar said. “Our instruction is stay at home,’’ he added. With this situation, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año issued a directive compelling interested parties to obtain a certification from the LGUs about their relief operations. In doing this, Año said this would legitimize their supposed relief operations and not be misconstrued as a “palusot.” Stressing further, Malaya said it is unlawful for groups to proceed directly to the barangays to hand out relief goods and other forms of assistance. He added that no matter how good the intentions are, this will violate the government’s stay-at1home policy and social distancing protocols. “We are pleading with relief organizations to first secure clearances from the LGUs where the relief operations will be undertaken,’’ Malaya ended.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya,(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN) Malaya said the already agonizing situation on the checkpoints with the long queues of traffic is further aggravated by errant groups making “palusot (flimsy excuse)’’ that their travel is legitimate due to the supposed relief operations. The report from Lt. General Eleazar Giant Task Force COVID SHIELD chief revealed that traffic is stalled numerous times due to the presence of the rows of vehicles with tarpaulins pasted on them bearing their conduct of relief operations. Police and military personnel have received intense criticism that condemned them for being inept that resulted into heavy gridlocks at the checkpoints. Eleazar appealed for public understanding for the temporary inconvenience stressing that traffic flow will be unhampered after the checkpoints. “This only means that we are doing our job. Please bear in mind the great difficulty of the men and women manning the checkpoint in ensuring law and order. We are all in this one of leveling the plateau of COVID-19,’’ Eleazar said. “Our instruction is stay at home,’’ he added. With this situation, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año issued a directive compelling interested parties to obtain a certification from the LGUs about their relief operations. In doing this, Año said this would legitimize their supposed relief operations and not be misconstrued as a “palusot.” Stressing further, Malaya said it is unlawful for groups to proceed directly to the barangays to hand out relief goods and other forms of assistance. He added that no matter how good the intentions are, this will violate the government’s stay-at1home policy and social distancing protocols. “We are pleading with relief organizations to first secure clearances from the LGUs where the relief operations will be undertaken,’’ Malaya ended.