BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director Colonel Henry Binas to conduct an investigation on reports that some people are trying to print home quarantine passes (HQP) outside the authorized printer.
“Let this be a warning to those concerned, including printing presses, that such offense will be dealt with accordingly by our authorities,” he said.
On September 6, the City Government started the implementation of the HQP system and check-up points in the city.
Leonardia earlier issued Executive Order (EO) No. 58 to establish the Bacolod City HQP system and check-up points to regulate the movement of people within Bacolod City and the entry/exit of out-of-towners into the city as means of stemming the local spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) infections.
Policemen were deployed to secure the city's outer boundaries along Bacolod-Talisay in Barangay Bata, Mansilingan going to Murcia, Araneta going to Bago City, Circumferential Road going to Silay Airport, and at the boundary along Barangay Granada.
About 27 inner checkpoints were also placed in various barangays to check the HQPs.
Section 4 of the EO states that each household will be issued an HQP primarily to one household member who is of competent age and discretion (at least 21 years old and above), but it may be passed on to a maximum of three (3) other qualified members of the same household whose names will be duly written at the back portion of the HQP. Only one of these authorized holders will be out of the household, at any given time, when using the HQP.
Household members who will take turns in using the HQP at any given time will carry it at all times while outside the household and present it, upon inspection, with a valid personal ID with picture.
The HQP cannot be used as a travel pass through other towns and cities outside of Bacolod City.
Any misuse or abuse in the use of the HQP will be subject to prosecution under applicable laws. To regulate social distancing and limit the movements of people, the use of the HQP will be on an odd-even scheme. Holders with HQPs ending in the odd numbers -- 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 -- will be permitted to leave their households and use the HQP on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
HQP holders with HQP ending in the even numbers -- 2, 4, 6, 8, 0 -- will be permitted to leave their households on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
No HQP holders will be permitted to leave their households on Sundays, in the same manner that no HQP shall be used on Sundays, the EO further stated.