POLICEMEN under the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) were ordered to be well informed of the new guidelines under the alert level system of the COVID-19 quarantine classifications that will be enforced in Metro Manila to ensure proper enforcement.
The new guidelines for these quarantine classifications have already been provisionally approved.
“Now that the guidelines for the quarantine alert system was already issued, I have tasked our police commanders in Metro Manila to make sure that all police personnel on the ground are fully informed of what is allowed and not permitted for each quarantine alert level,” Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said.
“Before September 16, NCRPO units should have coordinated with LGUs to determine the quarantine alert in their areas of responsibility so they could effectively enforce the granular lockdowns,” he added.
PGen Eleazar underscored the importance of coordination with LGUs on the new guidelines, saying it is also a way of helping the healthcare workers who have been at the frontline of COVID-19 response for more than a year now.
“Our healthcare workers are very much overworked already fighting COVID-19 for more than a year now, and I saw this situation of medical frontliners in our ranks,” said PGen Eleazar.
Among the provisions of the new guidelines are that under Alert Level 4, which is the highest risk classification, dine-in, personal services, and mass gatherings are not allowed.
Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) will also be limited to healthcare workers and returning and leaving Overseas Filipino Workers, which means that even government officials residing in areas that would be under localized lockdowns would not be allowed to go out.
PGen Eleazar appealed for the public’s cooperation and understanding on these new regulations, noting that it is for the health and safety of everybody.
“I appeal for some understanding and cooperation with the public regarding these rules that will be implemented by the government amid the threat of COVID-19. These need to be done to ensure our health and safety to further curb the spread of the coronavirus,” the Chief PNP said.