AN OFFICIAL of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in Northern Mindanao said Wednesday, June 10, that police will continue to issue travel authority (TA) for those who would enter Cagayan de Oro City from Misamis Oriental and vice versa.
PRO-Northern Mindanao spokesperson Mardy Hortillosa II said the travel authority is still needed to regulate the movement of people with no essential activities in the city and in the province.
Mayor Oscar Moreno said Tuesday, June 9, that Cagayan de Oro will not require travel authority from residents of Misamis Oriental who are heading to the city.
"As far as Cagayan de Oro is concerned, we will not ask for a travel authority and I will advise Colonel Dampal to follow that," Moreno said.
"PRO-10 believes that the decision of the good mayor of Cagayan de Oro, Mayor Oscar Moreno, is reasonable and worthy to be recognized since we can ease the burden experienced by the people in going out of the city to the province of Misamis Oriental and vice versa. But we believe also that there is a need to regulate the movement of people with no essential or authorized activities in both LGUs which was directed by IATF Reso # 43," the Northern Mindanao police said in a statement.
Hortillosa said under the IATF resolution 43 paragraph A, sub-paragraph 4A, "the movement of all persons in areas placed under MGCQ shall be limited to accessing essential goods and services, for work in the offices or industries permitted to operate hereunder, and for other activities permitted."
Hortillosa added that the said provision supports the travel authority implemented by the PRO-Northern Mindanao.
But Hortillosa clarified that the travel authority will be asked only for people not mentioned as Authorized Person Outside Residence (Apor).
"Without the TA, we can't assure that all movements of the people within CDO and MisOr are under the said guidelines, that's the reason why we need to implement TA to contain the possible transmission of Covid-19," Hortillosa said.
"PRO-10 respects the wisdom of the good mayor, but we are not in the position to decide regarding the said matter," he added.
Hortillosa said the PRO-Northern Mindanao leadership will raise Moreno's concern to the Regional IATF so that appropriate action will be undertaken.