Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Sunday placed the Medical Reserve Force (MRF) on standby to assist in the vaccination process during the reimplementation of the enhanced community quarantine at the National Capital Region amid the threat of Delta variant.
Eleazar said the MRF is ready to help as additional manpower in the vaccination rollout after the Metro Manila Council expressed readiness to inoculate 250,000 individuals each day during the ECQ from Aug. 6 to 20.
“The PNP’s Medical Reserve Force will be on standby in case they will be tapped in the vaccination process during the two-week ECQ,” Eleazar said in a statement.
He directed the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to prepare the deployment of additional cops and contingency plan for the vaccination.
“Ihahanda din natin ang assets ng PNP kung sakaling kailanganin ito para sa paghahatid ng bakuna sa ibang lugar (Let us prepare the PNP assets if needed to transport vaccines in difference areas),” he added.
Eleazar said the recommendation to place Metro Manila under the strictest quarantine measure as approved by President Rodrigo Duterte is necessary intervention to protect the public against the more virulent variant of Covid-19.
During ECQ imposition, only essential travel and services will be allowed in Metro Manila.
Eleazar also tasked concerned police commanders to coordinate with local government officials, especially barangay executives, to discuss the vaccination process during the ECQ.
“I have already instructed the NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. to make sure that all the quarantine restrictions that have been implemented before, including the deployment of appropriate number of PNP personnel and the coordination with Local Government Units for force multipliers, will be in place during that period,” Eleazar said.
He said PNP will make sure that the minimum public health safety protocols and other quarantine rules will be strictly implemented to contain the Delta variant in communities, public utility vehicles, mass transport system and even in business establishments.
Eleazar reminded the PNP personnel to be courteous at all times and respect the rights of the people, especially in dealing with violators.
“The fight against the Covid-19, including all its variants, is not only the responsibility of the people in the government, it is an obligation of everybody and our first line of defense is to be mindful of our protection and that of our family at all times — and to avail of the free vaccinations the moment that it becomes available for you,” Eleazar added.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government has directed the Joint Task Force COVID Shield to activate the Quarantine Control Points effective Sunday at the boundaries of NCR Plus to ensure that only Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APORs) are allowed to travel in and out.
Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año directed JTF COVID Shield Commander Lt. Gen. Israel Dickson to activate all the quarantine control points (QCPs) in all the borders of NCR Plus in Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, and Rizal.
He said the PNP shall only allow APORs to pass and will recognize if they have Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) IDs issued by regulatory agencies, and valid IDs or pertinent documentation issued by establishments allowed to operate under the current quarantine classification.
He said those found to be unauthorized person outside of residence will not be allowed to pass and will be asked to return to their homes.
“The implementation of strict border controls in the NCR Plus areas is critical to stopping the spread of the Delta variant,” he said.
He also reminded the PNP to allow the free movement of cargo/delivery vehicles, especially those bringing food across all QCPs because these are important to the economy.
“We have instructed all QCPs to allow the unimpeded movement of cargo trucks and delivery vehicles across all our checkpoints,” he said.
In response to Año’s directive, Eleazar ordered policemen manning QCPs to ensure the free movement of cargo vans and trucks carrying essential goods during lockdown.
Año said any violation of the prohibitions may constitute non-cooperation of the person or entities which is punishable under Section 9 of Republic Act 11332 or “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act”.
Source: Philippines News Agency
