Task Force COVID-19 Shield taps HPG to ensure unhampered flow of cargoes

The Joint Task Force COVID-19 Shield has tapped the Philippine National Police - Highway Patrol Group to ensure the flow of cargo vehicles will remain unhampered during this period of enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

According to task force commander, Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, the PNP-HPG was directed to set up dedicated control points (DCP) on provincial boundaries and other strategic locations where cargo vehicles usually pass through.

"The DCPs could be set up in the existing Quarantine Control Points or QCPs.  But once it is done, the QCPS will be immediately be converted to DCPs and will be manned and under the supervision of HPG personnel," Eleazar said Friday.

Eleazar said with the establishment of the DCPs, all vehicles carrying cargoes, including trucks, vans, pick-up and jeepneys will be exempted from being flagged down or checked at the QCPs.

“The objective here is to ensure that deliveries of food and other basic goods are not subjected to unnecessary and redundant inspections which are the usual reason of the delay,” Eleazar said.

He added that the inspection of cargo vehicles would only be done at the DCPs, only if necessary.

"Cargo vehicles will only be inspected at HPG-manned and HPG-supervised Dedicated Control Points, and inspection will only be done if necessary. These cargo vehicles must not be flagged down or inspected at the QCPs,” he said.

Following this development, Eleazar already instructed team leaders of the HPG to coordinate with local commanders regarding the matter.

The government has been saying that all types of cargoes, regardless if they carry food or non-food products, should be able to pass through checkpoints so that there would be enough supply of food and other necessities amid this strict quarantine. — RSJ, GMA News