THE Joint Task Force Covid Shield (JTF CV Shield) will no longer require stranded students and workers to secure a travel authority for trips within Metro Manila.
Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, JTF Covid Shield commander and Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for operations, said this covers locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and indispensable travels (IT) like medical and family emergencies.
“Since we are now implementing general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ and also indispensable travels are similar to the case of the LSIs, then travels within National Capital Region and within the province shall be permitted without the travel authority,” he said.
Eleazar said a travel authority will only be required if the travels are outside Metro Manila.
He said the process of securing travel authority was also simplified by delegating it to the local police commanders.
“For those whose travel is outside Metro Manila, the issuance of the travel authority is delegated to the district directors,” he said.
Travels between two regions require the authority of the provincial director.
In order to get a travel authority from the respective police officials, only a medical certificate issued by city or municipal health office is needed.
Once the travel authority is approved, the police personnel manning the help desk responsible for its issuance would notify the person to pick up the hard copy of the travel authority, or, the travel authority could be sent via e-mail or any messaging apps like Messenger or Viber.
Eleazar, however, reiterated the government’s call on the public to avoid unnecessary travels.
He said people who want to buy food and other essentials and in need of basic services must not cross borders of towns, cities and even provinces as the Department of Trade and Industry earlier assured the availability of such in every locality.
He said this was also the reason why the government earlier ensured the unhampered travel of cargo and delivery trucks of food and other essential products amid the lockdown.
“Why do we have to go that far if those goods and services are also available in your communities? So we strongly advise our kababayan to avail those goods and services in their localities,” he said.
“As what SILG Año said, patronizing the stores and other business establishments in your communities will not only help the economy in your localities but will also protect yourself from the risk of coronavirus infection,” Eleazar added. (SunStar Philippines)