INDIVIDUALS planning to travel within Davao Region shall no longer be required to secure a travel authority, but medical clearance is still needed upon crossing the checkpoint.
In an interview on June 8 on 87.5 Davao City Disaster Radio, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said members of the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) came into agreement on the new local guidelines on Monday morning, June 8.
"Everybody agreed didto na diri sa Davao Region, dili naka kinahanglan og travel authority going out anywhere... Ang kinahanglan na lang nimo is mag-present ka og medical clearance dinha sa checkpoint (Everybody agreed during the meeting to forgo the travel authority requirements within the Davao Region. What will be required is the medical clearance)," Duterte-Carpio said.
In a June 8, 2020 document of the RIATF, it states that "workers and other people listed as Authorized Persons Outside Residence (Apor) do not need travel authority."
For workers, they will only need to present their company ID or a certificate of employment. For business owners, they will be required to present business permits and shall indicate where they will be going.
It also states that "indispensable travels" in the region shall be permitted without travel authority and will be required a medical certificate.
"Indispensable travels" are family emergencies, medical emergencies, and those with humanitarian reasons.
This came days after the Joint Task Force Covid Shield (JTF CV Shield) announced that when traveling from one general community quarantine (GCQ) area to another, travelers will need to get a travel authority from Philippine National Police.
The travel authority is required for locally stranded individuals (LSIs) who wish to return home.
LSIs are local workers, students, local or foreign tourists, individuals stranded in various localities while in transit.
In a previous interview, the mayor did not require any travel authority documents or passes upon entry to the city as it is deemed unnecessary according to the city's medical consultants.
But the mayor said since the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has also issued a memorandum circular on travel between local government units (LGUs), she reminded those who would be going to other provinces or areas to secure a travel authority.
"Going out is medyo lisod. Need gyud og travel permit tungod ang ubang LGU (local government unit) nagapangayo og travel permit (Going outside the region can be difficult. Other LGUs are strictly requiring travel permit) on the basis of a DILG and PNP memo," Duterte-Carpio said in an interview via 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
The mayor urged the public to check if the LGU that he or she will travel to will require any travel documents.
"Just to be sure nga di ta matanggong kung asa ka padulung, pag-secure nalang og travel authority (Just to be sure that you won't be stranded in the area you will be going to, better to secure a travel authority)," she said.
In compliance with the guidelines set by DILG and PNP, the city has set up a one-stop-shop for locally stranded individuals.
"Giingnan mi LGUs nga magbuhat og one-stop-shop for travel permit so nagbuhat ta og one-stop-shop sa Davao City Police Office (DCPO). Naa na ang City Health Office (CHO) and Police para maka-issue dayon g travel authority upon check-up sa imoha (We established a one-stop-shop at the DCPO where you will be issued a travel authority upon checkup by the CHO there)," the mayor said.
On Monday, June 8, the one-stop-shop began accepting requirements from LSIs who are in need of a travel authority for trips outside Davao Region.
For those who need a travel authority, they will need to submit the following at the police station: a duly filled-up form or request letter; certification from the Barangay Chairman indicating that the LSI has not developed any Covid-19 symptoms for at least 14 days before the travel request; and Medical Clearance Certificate from the City Health Office (CHO) or Department of Health accredited hospitals.
Stranded individuals may visit the DCPO One-Stop-Shop Management at San Pedro St., Davao City. They will also be required to fill out the form or request letter indicating the name of traveler, date of travel, place of origin, place of destination, details of the vehicle to be used (type of vehicle, driver's name/contact number, and plate number). The form is available at the DCPO Admin Building lobby.
After completing the form, LSI shall get a medical clearance from the CHO at DCPO one-stop-shop management or from DOH accredited hospitals. If completed, the requirements will be submitted to the police in charge of the issuance of the travel authority. The travel authority will be issued within 10 to 15 minutes.
The one-stop-shop is open from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Duterte-Carpio said DCPO has also requested to set up a one-stop-shop at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport because some arriving passengers are not from Davao Region and may need a travel authority.
