More measures to ensure faster cargo movement

April 7, 2020

The Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield (JTF CoViD Shield) has set up a total of 107 dedicated control points (DCPs) nationwide to ensure  unhampered movement of cargo vehicles carrying food items and other basic necessities amid the ongoing implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

According to Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, commander of the JTF CoViD Shield, all DCPs are manned and supervised by personnel of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and augmented by local police forces.

Forty-four of these DCPs were in Luzon where the ECQ is strictly being implemented. The 26 in Visayas and 27 in Mindanao are all manned by a total of 563 HPG personnel.

“The movement of cargo vehicles has significantly improved since the establishment of the DCPs. This is what President Duterte wants—ensure that delivery of food items and other basic goods are not delayed because of the current situation we are into,” Eleazar said.

“On behalf of the JTF CoViD Shield, we express gratitude to our Chief PNP for continuously providing us with more manpower to implement the home quarantine and other rules relating to the ECQ guidelines,” he added.

Last week, Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered the HPG to assist the JTF CoViD Shield in securing cargo vehicles amid complaints of a delay in their movement due to inspections being conducted in different control points set up along major thoroughfares across the country.

Eleazar said they expect more DCPs to be set up after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the interagency task force to extend the ECQ in Luzon until April 30.

Meanwhile, Police Brigadier General Eliseo Cruz, HPG director, said he is in constant coordination with his commanders across the country to ensure that the rules in handling cargoes are strictly implemented in DCPs.

Based on the rules, cargo vehicles will only be inspected at DCPs and be done if necessary.

“I have already ordered my local commanders to continue monitoring the situation in their AORs (Areas of Responsibility) that include identification of more strategic areas where we could put up more DCPs,” Cruz said.

On Tuesday, the two generals inspected several DCPs along major thoroughfares located within the boundaries of Metro Manila such as the Valenzuela-Bulacan boundary, Marikina-Rizal boundary, Pasig-Rizal boundary and Muntinlupa-Laguna boundary.

Eleazar also said there are a total of 3,593 Quarantine Control Points (QCPs) set up nationwide being manned by a total of 33,828 policemen and other members of the JTF CoViD Shield.

Out the figure, 1,725 of them are in Luzon; 696 in the Visayas; and, 1,182 in Mindanao.

It is in the QCPs where private vehicles and persons are being checked. Only those considered as Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) are being allowed to pass the QCPs.

Eleazar reminded policemen, soldiers and other law enforcement agencies to strictly observe the ECQ rules to come up with uniform guidelines across the country. Ella Dionisio/DMS