THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) appealed to the public to cooperate in check-up points to prevent and control the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, spokesperson of BCPO, said Tuesday, March 17, that they need to cooperation of the motorists to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19, and to maintain the smooth flow of traffic in the city’s boundaries.
He said policemen were deployed in the boundaries of Barangays Mansilingan, Sum-ag, Bata, and in access road going to Bacolod-Silay Airport.
“We cannot avoid the clogged up of vehicles because of its volume and we only have one to three thermal scanners,” he added.
The BCPO’s check-up points operation is in compliance with the Executive Order (EO) No. 21 issued by Mayor Evelio Leonardia declaring general community quarantine in Bacolod.
The mayor already issued EO No. 22 providing for the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of EO No. 21, Series of 2020.
Section 2 of the WO No. 2 stated that the check-up points shall be put up in strategic areas of the city primarily under and sound determination of the local Philippine National Police, to be assisted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the City Health Office (CHO), and any other government agency, where they check vehicular/pedestrian traffic in order to enforce circulation control of all necessary quarantine measures and other laws, orders and regulations.
The non-essential entry of persons into or exit out of Bacolod City shall be restricted, except for out-of-towners who report for work in Bacolod City during their work days, they should have valid company identification (ID) card; Bacolod residents who report for work out-of-town during their work day, they should have valid ID; medical/ health workers in the performance for their duties; people travelling for medical or humanitarian reasons; authorized government officials/employees in the performance of their duties; people providing basic services; returning delivery personnel of business establishments based either in Bacolod City or out-of-town.
In all above exemptions, they should not exhibit symptoms of Covid-19 infection; otherwise, they shall be managed in the following manner; out-of-towners, they shall be made to return to their place of residents; for Bacolod residents, they shall be disallowed from leaving the city if they are on their way out and they shall be endorsed to the CHO or the barangay health emergency response team (BHERTs) for proper medical handling. Likewise, if they are returning to the city, they shall be also endorsed to the CHO or BHERTs.
Pico said the check-up points operation was led by the BCPO-Mobile Patrol Group, and Bacolod City Mobile Force Company.
“Our policemen were deployed 24/7 to secure the city’s boundaries with the assistance from City Health Office (CHO) and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO),’ he said.
He added they also need more thermal scanners to avoid the traffic jam in the city’s boundaries.
BCPO will also deploy personnel in various areas for the implementation of curfew in the city.
“We are asking the cooperation of everybody here, let’s stay in our home because are now in community quarantine. Avoid travel if you don’t have an emergency or work here in Bacolod City. Let’s cooperate to our authorities because this is for everybody,” Pico said. (MAP)