Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases spokesperson Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced that the government will tighten the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in Luzon, cautioning the public on Wednesday to avoid becoming complacent in order to prevent the COVID-19 virus from spreading.
The Palace official said that according to the Philippine National Police a total of 108,088 individuals in the whole country have been arrested for violating the ECQ as of April 13, and that the President and members of the IATF had noticed a growing complacency in the population with regard to following the guidelines of the ECQ.
“We appeal to everyone to please cooperate and, as much as possible, stay home. Bahay muna. Buhay muna.”
“To address this and the reported increase in number of vehicles traveling along EDSA and major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, the PNP will strictly impose the policy on Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR),” said Nograles.
Nograles revealed that the PNP-HPG has been directed to implement the following measures beginning on Wednesday: (1) the inspection of private vehicles to determine whether the driver and passengers belong to the list of APOR or not; and (2) if the driver or any of the passengers is unauthorized, HPG will issue LTO-TOP or MMDA-OVR tickets against drivers of private vehicles transporting Unauthorized Persons Outside Residence as identified by JTF CV Shield.
The lawyer explained that authorized persons include individuals exempted from the ECQ, which had previously been announced by the IATF, such as medical and health workers, government employees, workers in essential services, and other frontliners.
“Kung mapansin nyo po, humihigpit na rin ang ating mga pulis sa mga checkpoint sa ating mga barangay. Sana po intindihin natin na magiging effective lang itong ECQ sa pag-contain ng COVID-19 kung tayo ay hindi basta-basta na lang nakakaikot at nakakalabas,” stressed Nograles.
“We must make the necessary sacrifices to overcome the greatest public health crisis of our lifetimes.”
The Cabinet member pointed out that the implementation of these stringent measures “is all being done for us and our families in order to prevent the virus from spreading.”
“We appeal to everyone to please cooperate and, as much as possible, stay home. Bahay muna. Buhay muna,” added Nograles.
“Mga kababayan, hindi tayo pwede maging kampante. We must remain vigilant, we must continue to work together, and we must make the necessary sacrifices to overcome the greatest public health crisis of our lifetimes.”