LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Department of the Interior and Local Government ordered the dismantling of barangay checkpoints installed along national and provincial roads to allow the unhampered movement of goods and essential commodities during the imposition of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.
The order was issued due to complaints particularly from carriers of goods and essential commodities that the barangay checkpoints have been making their travel longer.
Cargo carriers, however, still have to pass through established Philippine National Police checkpoints and follow procedures in line with the ECQ.
DILG Cordillera Director Marlo Iringan recently issued an advisory based on the directive of the President and the national Interagency Task Force for Covid-19 that barangay checkpoints in national highways and provincial roads shall be removed as they impede the movement of goods and essential commodities in violation of IATF guidelines.
Vegetable dealers going to Manila and other areas welcome the directive.
Many LGUs established strategic barangay checkpoints as a measure to regulate movement to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 in their area.
Iringan said barangay checkpoints do not have the authority to inspect cargo vehicles carrying goods and other essential commodities. Only the PNP personnel are allowed to inspect cargo trucks, he added.
However, barangay checkpoints can be maintained if it is authorized, supervised, and monitored by the PNP.
The main purpose of barangay checkpoints is to ensure people who go outside their residences have quarantine passes issued by competent authority, Iringan said. It does not need to be a physical barrier; it can be a waiting shed, he added.
Iringan reminded truckers that they are required to present a health declaration form secured from respective barangays and the company ID cards of the driver and helpers.
They will also be subjected to health protocols like thermal scanning and should practice social and physical distancing at all times.
Food lane passes must also be presented at PNP checkpoints.
He enjoined everyone to cooperate in the fight against the Covid-19.
“Hindi lang ito laban ng mga national government agencies at LGUs. Laban lahat natin ito. Kailangan pagtulungan natin itong lahat. We listen to the instructions advisories of our authorities and we just stay inside our houses. This is our way of helping in combating the Covid-19 the soonest.” – Susan C. Aro
