AN OFFICIAL of the Misamis Oriental provincial task force against Covid-19 said Thursday, April 16, that the travel pass policy will continue to be in effect in the province until the police clarify the guidelines on Authorized Persons Outside Residence (Apor), which "applies in areas under enhanced community quarantine."
Task force spokesperson lawyer Jeffrey Saclot said the Apor guidelines was released for areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) as stated in the Philippine National Police (PNP) advisory.
Saclot said the Provincial Government is just following and observing the PNP advisory as the province is not placed under ECQ.
"I would like to construe that Apor is released for areas under ECQ until such time the province of Misamis Oriental is clarified on this and there is no official order then the executive order of Gov. Bambi Emano requiring travel pass continues," Saclot said.
Saclot said the travel pass policy is necessary to continually monitor the health condition of people coming into the province to work or carry out essential activities.
He said the province remains at the preventive stage as it has not yet logged a positive case.
"Dili ni paglisod-lisod but it is important para ma-monitor ang health condition kay wala ta kahibalo aha na sila gasuroy-suroy. They claim naa sila IDs pero wala na check ilang health condition," Saclot said.
After the Cagayan de Oro health office stops issuance of health certificate, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) will issue travel pass for free for Kagay-anons who work or will carry out essential activities in Misamis Oriental.
Saclot said those who will secure a travel pass will just have to bring a barangay certification that he/she is not a person under monitoring (PUM) or patient under investigation (PUI).
He said the PHO has already set up a system and it has enough personnel to accommodate those who will get a travel pass.
Saclot also explained that those who have yet to secure a travel pass from their respective town or city heath offices will be allowed entry in checkpoints.
Saclot also clarified that apart from medical doctors, frontliners manning the checkpoints no longer need travel pass.
