Coordinate with LGUs on outdoor exercise, NCR police units told

MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Sunday instructed all police commanders to coordinate with the local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila to ensure the proper implementation of the outside exercise protocols.

“I have tasked police offices and units in Metro Manila to immediately coordinate with local government units to determine regulations to be imposed in connection with outdoor exercises,” Eleazar said in a statement.

Eleazar said Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos said LGUs could set limitations on the movement of persons or set specific time periods for outdoor exercises.

The MMDA lifted ban on outdoor exercises after the National Capital Region has been downgraded from the most restrictive enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to modified ECQ from Aug. 21 to 31.

Outdoor exercises, however, will be allowed only from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., according to the MMDA resolution.

Although outdoor fitness activities have been allowed, mayors were given the discretion to impose limitations in their localities to curb Covid-19 transmission.

Eleazar said police personnel should be fully aware of every LGU’s regulations so there would be no confusion on their enforcement.

He said all minimum public health safety standards should still be followed by persons engaging in outdoor exercises with the continuing rise in Covid-19 infections.

Eleazar said the PNP rounded up 149,963 violators during the imposition of ECQ from Aug. 1 to 20 in Metro Manila.

“As Metro Manila moves to less stringent modified enhanced community quarantine today, Aug. 21 to Aug. 31, let us not let relax our guards because the threat of the more transmissible Delta coronavirus variant continuously plague the country,” Eleazar said on Saturday.

Be mindful of restrictions

Eleazar, meanwhile, advised residents of Metro Manila as well as other areas under MECQ like Laguna and Bataan to be mindful of quarantine restrictions as more authorized persons outside residence (APORs) will be allowed to travel.

He said restrictions are still the same for consumer APORs, saying they are only allowed to go out during non-curfew hours if they carry with them a quarantine pass issued by their LGUs.

NCR’S curfew hours remain from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Eleazar said only one consumer APOR per household will be allowed to go out and will not be allowed to cross borders to avail of the goods and services of the permitted industries and establishments.

“Consumer APORs are then advised to avail of the goods and services within their respective cities,” Eleazar said.

He said the concept of “tiny bubbles” will still be applied in Metro Manila, with each of the 17 LGUs in the region to have border control points manned by policemen.

Unlike in the MECQ imposed in Metro Manila in April this year, the MECQ being implemented from Aug. 21 to 31 is stricter especially when it comes to mass gathering.

“Kung dati ay may alfresco dining, or yung outdoor dining services, sa MECQ ngayon ay hindi po allowed yun at kung dati ay may religious gathering na ang venue capacity ay hanggang 10 percent, ngayon ay hindi pinapayagan ito. Online services ang ating mga religious activities under today’s MECQ (If before there was alfresco dining, or outdoor dining services, it is no longer allowed in the MECQ now and if before there was a religious gathering with a venue capacity of up to 10 percent, now it is not allowed. Today’s MECQ allows only online services of our religious activities),” Eleazar said.