THE Davao City Government will now limit the use of the food and medicine (FM) passes under the implementation of a coding scheme effective Saturday, April 18.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Captain Rose Aguilar told Sunstar Davao in a phone interview said the implementation came after Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio announced on Wednesday afternoon, April 15, the extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the rise of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in the city.
In an order issued by the DCPO, all joint Task Force and Quarantine Control Points in the city are directed to implement the coding scheme.
Aguilar said the coding will be based from the first number digit of the FM pass control number.
Those FM passes with control numbers starting at odd numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 are only allowed to go out on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays.
While those control numbers starting at even numbers 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 are only allowed to go out on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Meanwhile, FM passes cannot be used on Sundays.
"Timan-an nila ilang schedule. Kay kung masakpan sila nga mugawas, dakpon sila ug mafile-an namu sila og kaso sa pagsupak sa (Republic Act) RA 11332 (They should take note of their schedule. If they would be seen outside, and found out that it is not their schedule, we will arrest them and they will be charged for violating RA 1132)," the DCPO spokesperson said.
RA 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, was adapted to the RA 11469 or the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act", which allows LGUs to enforce policies for the prevention of the further spread of the Covid-19.
Aguilar, however, said exemptions would still be allowed for essential frontline employees covered on the Executive order No. 23-B, drivers who would be driving their husband or wife to work, drivers who would be ferrying essential employees, drivers who would be bringing patients for medical maintenance, and other valid reasons in case of emergency.
"Gi-set ni siya nga kamanduan aron mabawasan ang mga galatagaw sa dalan. Human kini naobserbahan sa atong mayora nga daghan gihapon gapanggawas bisan anaa ta sa ECQ (This order was set to lessen those who will be roaming around the street, without valid purpose. This was observed by the mayor, herself, upon romaing around and noticing a huge influx of vehices despite being under ECQ)," she said.
Duterte-Carpio aired her disappointment, in a radio interview on Tuesday evening, upon noticing private vehicles plying the streets despite the ECQ. This resulted in the positioning of heavy equipment and military tanks, serving as roadblocks, in some streets in the city to discourage private vehicles from plying the streets.
Aguilar, meanwhile, said the coding scheme would help lessen the huge volume of people, especially in public places such as markets, and grocery stores, which are vulnerable places for the spreading of the virus.
Under Executive Order (EO) 23-A, FM passes shall only be used to buy food, medicines or go to the hospital. Two individuals can be named on the pass but only one named person can use it at any given time. In case of emergency, the pass is not needed. The usage of FM passes is only valid from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Present, bring FM passes
Task Force Davao (TFD) appealed to Dabawenyos to make their food and medicine (FM) pass more visible to authorities when passing checkpoints for speedy inspection while enhanced community quarantine is still in effect.
TFD Civil Military Office (CMO) chief Major Louie Legarde said yesterday that there are still residents in Davao City who refuse to abide by the city's executive order.
They noted individuals who do not carry with them their passes when going outside their premises, downplaying the current situation. Thus, their names are listed in police blotters.
"Sa tanang mugawas sa inyuhang panimalay i-andam daan ang inyuhang FM pass ug Employer's ID o bisag unsang ID. Ikulintas kini sa li-og aron madali ang pag check sa atuang security forces (Those who will be going outside, please wear your IDs around your neck for easier inspection)," Legarde said.
Legarde reminded them that before going outside their residence, they must ensure first that they have with them their passes to avoid inconvenience. Those who will fail to present one at the checkpoint will face cases for violating the executive order.
He added that this measure is only meant to minimize the movement of the people while the city is trying to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
TFD troops are cooperating with the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) in manning over 20 quarantine control checkpoints.
On Wednesday evening, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said that stricter measures will be implemented following her announcement on the extension of the ECQ.
The City Mayor has expressed her disappointment that there are still people on the streets even those with private vehicles, despite the city's order.
