DA chief asks security forces manning checkpoints for “unimpeded” flow of goods

March 18, 2020

Agriculture Secretary William Dar has urged security forces manning  checkpoints to allow "unimpeded" flow of goods, particularly agricultural products.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said that there is already an instruction from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease regarding the flow of goods in Luzon, including Metro Manila, where an enhanced community quarantine has been declared due to coronavirus disease.

Reading the IATF general guidelines, Dar said, "The Philippine National Police is instructed to allow the unimpeded movement of all types of cargoes, subject to its authority to conduct inspection procedures in checkpoints for the purpose of ensuring that protocols on strict home quarantine are observed."

He said that IATF has decided that for the goods, only "random checking" should be implemented.

Dar said even those fruits and vegetables from Benguet should enter Metro Manila.

He also said that the DA has been coordinating with the Metro Manila markets to ensure that they would not close so that basic goods could be bought from them. Celerina Monte/DMS