Over 700 barangay checkpoints set up in Metro Manila amid NCR Plus ECQ —DILG

At least 728 barangay checkpoints have been set up in Metro Manila amid the reimposition of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region and four provinces, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Monday.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, DILG spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said local government units should coordinate with nearby police stations before placing their own checkpoints.

“Sa mga barangay, meron po rin tayong 728 na barangay checkpoints  na pinahihintulutan sa buong Metro Manila (We have 728 authorized barangay checkpoints in the entire Metro Manila),” Malaya said.

He said barangay officials should not set up checkpoints without permission as it may lead to measures inconsistent with the standards of the national government like what happened last year.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) established 1,106 checkpoints in the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal or NCR Plus under a week-long ECQ.

At least 9,356 law enforcers will be designated in these checkpoints, Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander Police Lieutenant General Cesar Hawthorne Binag said on Sunday.

Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, the national government placed NCR Plus under ECQ from March 29 to April 4 with a new set of regulations.

Under ECQ, only authorized persons outside residence (APOR), including essential workers, are allowed to go outside their homes.—AOL, GMA News