DAVAO CITY —– The Panabo Covid-19 checkpoint now allows travelers and residents to pass but one must bring identification card, says Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Director Alex Roldan who visited the checkpoint at around 10:58 Thursday morning.
In an interview with Newsline, Roldan said the visit was to check and see for himself how the Inter-Agency task Force (IATF) guidelines on General Community Quarantine is implemented in the area.
This, after receiving reports that residents, passersby, traders, and other deliveries of essential goods are hampered due to their strict guidelines.
As of 10:58 this morning, “Okay na, I told the team leader to allow access not impede the motorists, those bringing essential goods, residents of Panabo coming in and out Davao City, and passersby but everyone must present ID, work certificate for workers and must follow the GCQ guideline as issued by the IATF,” Roldan emphasized.
Residents of the Davao region just need to present their ID but for those coming from other regions, they must have the clearance from the PNP.
Panabo City is the border of Davao City and Davao del Norte which connects to other parts of Southern Mindanao.
Individuals who are within the Davao region need to present ID if they are workers, Roldan emphasized “But GCQ protocol must be observed.’
On May 16, 2020, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib issued an Executive Order No. 40, Series of 2020 placing all cities and municipalities of Davao del Norte under General Community Quarantine which provided the policies, regulations, and sanction.
Under Section 2, it stated the condition among travellers to wit:
15. Travelers going inside the Province is subject to stringent screening procedures by the members of the Provincial COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force at the designated checkpoints in the Province. Passengers are required to present their employment IDs/Work Pass if working inside the Province, and/or Quarantine Pass/Market Pass before they are allowed entry.
16. Travelers and vehicles coming from Davao City and Bukidnon are not allowed to enter the Province, except those from the COVID-19 Crisis Management and Response Team, emergency vehicles, health workers, and organic PNP and military personnel who are on official travel; and those who have approved travel order by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
But Carpio-Duterte in a public statement over the city government-owned radio station DCDR said “Dati naman na open ang Davao City ug Panabo, akong giingon lang sa ila na dili lang nila pangayuan ug travel order ang mga tao na musulod. Kung nagtrabaho dira pangitai lang ninyo ug ID. Wala ko nanghuraw sa ila ang ako lang di lang nila pangayuan ug documents sama sa valid signature sa Mayor. Kung dili mo musugot magpasulod, magpasaka mo into ECQ kay dili pwede musulod ug gawas. Pero kung GCQ mo pareho sa inyong silingan pwede mo magpasulod basta di lang suroy-suroy.”
(The Davao City-Panabo (road) is open, what I am saying is that they do not ask for travel orders from people coming in. If they are workers, ask for ID, I am not threatening them, my point is, they should not ask documents like the valid signature of the Mayor. If they will not allow entry, they must elevate it into ECQ because entry and exit are now allowed. But if you are on GCQ like your neighbors you can allow entry as long as it is not for leisure.)
Early today, Roldan visited the Panabo checkpoint and talked with the team leader manning the checkpoint in coordination with Philippine National Police XI Regional Director Filmore Escobal.
“The hitches in the interpretation of the guideline are settled, there are things that needs to be clarified and “What is important is public safety,” Roldan added.-Editha Z. Caduaya
