Quarantine control tightened in Cavite borders amid unauthorized tourists

September 20, 2020

Quarantine Control Points (QCPs) between the boundaries of Laguna and Cavite will be set up to prevent unauthorized tourists from entering Cavite without travel authority, the Joint Task Force COVID Shield said on Sunday.

According to Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, JTF commander, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan ordered the local police forces of Cavite to strengthen visibility on the provincial borders and the popular destinations in Tagaytay City in order to effectively manage and control the arrival of tourists.

Eleazar said the purpose is to ensure the protection of both the tourists and the local residents of Tagaytay City from the possible upsurge of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases after local officials decided to open the provincial borders for tourists in order to revive the local economy.

Tagaytay City, located in Cavite, has been adversely affected by the Taal Volcano eruption in January and the pandemic since March.

“The success and failure of the reopening of Tagaytay City depends on the smooth and regular coordination between the Local Government Units (LGUs) in Cavite and the local police forces," he said.

"If Tagaytay City succeeds in this effort, then this will definitely be replicated by other LGUs, especially those with tourist destinations. We do not want a scenario of an increase in COVID cases to happen. That is why necessary health protocols must be properly and strictly implemented,” he added.

The JTF commander said the local police force of Tagaytay should also regularly coordinate with its LGU in crafting and implementation of more security and health safety protocols, as well as security adjustments, especially during weekends when Tagaytay normally receives more tourists.

One of the health safety protocols that Cavite local police forces should focus on is the entry of unauthorized tourists, or those coming from areas under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and higher quarantine status areas with no Travel Authority. Although both Laguna and Cavite are under the Modified GCQ, setting up of QCP is essential to ensure that those coming from GCQ areas, particularly from Metro Manila, would not be able to enter Cavite without a Travel Authority.

Other measures are the wearing of both face mask and face shield, and observation of proper physical distancing, checking of body temperature especially those entering restaurants and ensuring that contact tracing mechanism is adhered.

Part of the coordination with the LGUs is the utilization of barangay tanods of Tagaytay City as force multipliers in enforcing the minimum health safety protocols.

Eleazar said the checking of tourists must be done properly at the borders of Cavite and Metro Manila and the provinces of Laguna and Batangas in order to prevent traffic build-up in the roads leading to Tagaytay City. Depending on the traffic situation, policemen manning the checkpoints could duplicate the strategy implemented by the HPG on random checkpoints.

Eleazar also appealed to the residents of Metro Manila and other areas under GCQ, and higher quarantine status not to insist on going to Tagaytay City with no Travel Authority to avoid inconvenience of being cited for violation and other inconvenience. Ella Dionisio/DMS