More than 57,000 locally stranded persons allowed to leave for the provinces

June 4, 2020

The Joint Task Force COVID Shield on Thursday said they issued travel authority to more than 57,000 locally stranded individuals and other people whose travels are related to medical and family emergencies.

Police Lt. General Guillermo Eleazar, JTF commander, said the travel authority is part of the national government’s efforts to assist as many people who need to go back to their hometowns, especially students and workers, and or have to go out and move to other areas out of necessity.

“Most of those issued with travel authority have long been reunited with their respective families and we in the JTF COVID Shield are also happy to assist those who sought our help for emergency-related travels,” said Eleazar.

As of June 3, the JTF COVID Shield has issued a total of 57,152 travel authorities for stranded individuals and indispensable travel relating to medical and family emergencies.

Most locally stranded individuals are from Luzon, with the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) having the most travel authorities approved at 10,230, followed by Police Regional Office 3 with 9,711; and Police Regional Office-Cordillera Administrative Region with 6,963.

The fourth is Police Regional Office 1 with 6,789.

In the Visayas, Police Regional Office 7 has the most number of travel authorities issued with 3,872; followed by Police Regional Office 6 with 3,564; and, Police Regional Office 8 with 966.

In Mindanao, Police Regional Office 9 issued 1,702 travel authorities; Police Regional Office 12 with 1,242; Police Regional Office 11 with 451; Police Regional Office 10 with 175 and Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region with 246.

Eleazar said the PNP Directorate for Operations also issued a total of 2,174 travel authorities.

He said strict medical protocols are being observed before a travel authority is issued, including medical clearance certificate from the city and municipal office where the applicants would be coming from. Ella Dionisio/DMS