Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez is asking for a faster and separate lane through checkpoints for vehicles carrying basic necessities such as agricultural products, food, medical products, and hygiene products to ensure that an adequate supply reaches markets during the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
Lopez said he had a discussion with the military and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to allot a separate lane for cargoes through checkpoints going in and out of Metro Manila.
The trade chief said a system to conduct random checking can be implemented for cargoes for faster inspection.
“It is very important that we make arrangements that cargoes will be allowed to replenish precisely the shelves that are running out of supplies.”
“It is very important that we make arrangements that cargoes will be allowed to replenish precisely the shelves that are running out of supplies because of the requirements of our consumers,” the trade head said.
The Cabinet official said he received reports that because of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, some cargoes were not allowed to leave the provinces to deliver goods and raw materials to other parts of the island.
“Do not hamper the flow of goods, especially the cargoes,” he added.
Lopez likewise clarified that only factories of food, medical products, and hygiene products (but limited to alcohol and disinfectants), are permitted to operate during the quarantine period.
“Only the factories producing our basic needs are allowed to operate.”
“Other hygiene products like soap, they are not included. We believe there are enough inventories of these products. Only the factories producing our basic needs are allowed to operate,” he stressed.
Lopez further said the market will “rely on existing inventories” if some factories cannot produce as workers would not be able to go to work.
He also encouraged companies to provide shuttle services for their employees as the government ordered the suspension of public transport during the enhanced community quarantine.