PSA survey team, nat’l ID implementers now excluded from ECQ

Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of the (JTF CV Shield), said government workers conducting survey and data gathering relating to the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to the country have been exempted from home quarantine in the latest update on ECQ rules being implemented by the task force. (File Photo: PIO NCRPO/Facebook)

MANILA – Members of survey teams from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) are now included in the list of the Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR) in Luzon while the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is in effect, the Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield (JTF CV Shield) said on Sunday.

Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, commander of the (JTF CV Shield), said government workers conducting survey and data gathering relating to the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to the country have been exempted from home quarantine in the latest update on ECQ rules being implemented by the task force.

Eleazar said the same exemption was also given to the people who were tapped by the government to conduct registration and implementation of the National Identification System.

“This was already coordinated with the Philippine National Police and our Chief PNP, General Archie Francisco Gamboa has already instructed local police commanders to ensure the unhindered travel of these teams and also to extend assistance to them if necessary,” Eleazar said in a statement.

“The swift and safe movement of these teams are necessary to get accurate information on the ground that would be used by the national government in effectively responding to the needs of our ‘kababayan’ especially those who were severely affected by the enhanced community quarantine,” he added.

He said the updated list of exemptions has already been forwarded to the local police commanders who are supervising the Quarantine Control Points.

Likewise, in the new list, Eleazar said, are Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) personnel setting up work-from-home arrangements, and support service provider crew of the export-oriented business companies, including those inside the economic zones, while being shuttled by their respective companies.

The JTF CV Shield is the enforcement arm of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). It is composed of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

The IATF-EID has been regularly updating the APOR based on the continuous discussions with the stakeholders. Matters relating to the movement of people and cargoes that would be agreed upon are forwarded to the JTF CV Shield for implementation.