Expect more checkpoints as NCR, 4 provinces revert to MECQ

Checkpoint at the boundary of Marikina City and Cainta, Rizal (File photo via PNA)

MANILA – Police will impose stricter measures at checkpoints in the city and municipal boundaries of Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal as these areas revert to modified enhanced community quarantine starting August 4 to 18, Joint Task Force Covid Shield commander Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said on Monday.

Eleazar said checkpoints would be set up anew by the police in these areas to limit the movement of people. Only those authorized persons outside residence (APOR) are allowed to go out.

“We will be implementing stricter measures in areas under MECQ for 15 days starting midnight.

This is not something new to our kababayan in Metro Manila and the four nearby provinces because we have been under this community quarantine before so what we are asking is for the cooperation of everybody to make the implementation of the security measures both for the public and your Philippine National Police,” Eleazar said in a statement sent to reporters.

He advised residents of areas under MECQ to avail of the basic goods and services in their respective communities in compliance with the safety protocol of staying at home and avoiding unnecessary travels.

“We highly encourage them to buy food and avail other basic goods and services in their respective communities because they will not be allowed to pass the quarantine control points which we will set up anew at the borders of cities and municipalities of Metro Manila and the four provinces that would be reverted to MECQ,” Eleazar said.

Under MECQ, only one person per household will be allowed to go out to avail of basic goods for the entire family, Eleazar said.

Those allowed to go out are required to have a quarantine pass issued by the local government units.

To recall, the quarantine pass was no longer required when Metro Manila and other areas were placed under the less stringent general community quarantine.

The number of quarantine checkpoints was reduced when GCQ was implemented.

Only checkpoints in provincial and regional borders were retained.