Quarantine pass will be required anew in NCR —DILG

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Monday that Metro Manila mayors have agreed to require again the use of quarantine pass while the National Capital Region is under enhanced community quarantine from August 6 to 20.

“They decided to implement the quarantine pass para mas maging maayos ang galaw ng ating mga kababayan na kailangan bumili ng pagkain at gamot,” DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said during Laging Handa.

(They decided to implement against the use of quarantine pass for smoother flow of people who need to buy essentials such as food and medicine.)

Malaya also clarified that going to COVID-19 vaccination appointment is considered an essential activity under ECQ.

“Individuals for vaccination are considered authorized person outside residence. They just need to present a document as proof of their vaccination schedule,” he added.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairperson Benhur Abalos said what was practiced before will most likely be the same thing that will be implemented.

He added the time is short for the LGUs to print quarantine passes and collate data again.

"Iyon pong kung ano iyong prinaktis (practiced) noong araw ng mga local government units, iyon na lang po muna ang gagawin namin ngayon because mabilisan po ito eh. We’re just talking of about five more days from now para mag-imprenta kami, mag-collate na naman kami ng mga pangalan, masyadong mabigat po," he said during a Palace briefing.

(What was practiced by the local government units before will be implemented again this time. We're just talking of about five more days for us to print, collate the names.)

"So, sa ngayon, each LGU sa baba po ay magbibigay po sila ng mga instructions kung anong prinaktis noong araw as much as possible. Effective naman, napababa ang kaso, iyon na rin po ang gagawin pong practice," he further said.

(It will be the LGUs that will issue the instructions. What was done before was effective in lowering the cases so we will do that again.)

Under ECQ protocol, only essential trips and essential services are allowed to operate. Likewise, only employees who work in essential services are allowed to physically report to work under ECQ.

The government issued one quarantine pass per household back in March 16 to May 14, 2020 when the entire Luzon was placed under ECQ to curb COVID-19 transmission.—AOL, GMA News