By Aaron Recuenco
Stranded commuters, especially in Metro Manila, were given window hours to enable them to return to their homes as the Philippine National Police (PNP) began strictly enforcing the enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon that took effect midnight Monday.
PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Guillermo Eleazar (PHOTO FROM PIO NCRPO / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Elezar, PNP deputy chief for Operations and concurrent commander of the Inter-Agency Task Force COVID Seal, said the decision to allow the stranded commuters to go home was a form of humanitarian consideration.
“We allow them to pass but we advise the public to go home because this enhanced community quarantine will be strictly enforced,” said Eleazar in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
Hundreds of commuters were trapped and stranded in various parts of Metro Manila, particularly at the border with nearby provinces due to lack of transportation to ferry them to their place of work and back to their homes.
Among the conditions of the enhanced community quarantine is the suspension of mass transportation.
But hundreds of workers still went to their place of works. Some of them however, found themselves unable to go to work while those who were able to go to work found themselves trapped and unable to go home due to checkpoints.
They were given the chance to go home for a few hours. But it will serve as the last warning.
“We gave them the chance to go home where they must for the rest of the quarantine period,” said Eleazar.
“We do not want them to be trapped or unable to go home and would just stay on the streets. But this should serve as a warning to them to follow the guideline,” he added.
The official said only health workers and other people given exemption to move around Metro Manila and Luzon would be allowed, provided they produce identification cards and other proofs that they are among those exempted.
“Our personnel will have a way of knowing this,” said Eleazar.
Eleazar assured that the government will provide transportation for health workers and those exempted from the strict implementation of the enhanced community quarantine.
PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Guillermo Eleazar (PHOTO FROM PIO NCRPO / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Elezar, PNP deputy chief for Operations and concurrent commander of the Inter-Agency Task Force COVID Seal, said the decision to allow the stranded commuters to go home was a form of humanitarian consideration.
“We allow them to pass but we advise the public to go home because this enhanced community quarantine will be strictly enforced,” said Eleazar in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
Hundreds of commuters were trapped and stranded in various parts of Metro Manila, particularly at the border with nearby provinces due to lack of transportation to ferry them to their place of work and back to their homes.
Among the conditions of the enhanced community quarantine is the suspension of mass transportation.
But hundreds of workers still went to their place of works. Some of them however, found themselves unable to go to work while those who were able to go to work found themselves trapped and unable to go home due to checkpoints.
They were given the chance to go home for a few hours. But it will serve as the last warning.
“We gave them the chance to go home where they must for the rest of the quarantine period,” said Eleazar.
“We do not want them to be trapped or unable to go home and would just stay on the streets. But this should serve as a warning to them to follow the guideline,” he added.
The official said only health workers and other people given exemption to move around Metro Manila and Luzon would be allowed, provided they produce identification cards and other proofs that they are among those exempted.
“Our personnel will have a way of knowing this,” said Eleazar.
Eleazar assured that the government will provide transportation for health workers and those exempted from the strict implementation of the enhanced community quarantine.