The Negros Occidental provincial government has set additional health requirements for authorized persons outside residence (APORs) entering the province as part of the measures to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
In Executive Order 20-33 released on Wednesday, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the province sees the need to regulate APORs by imposing additional health and safety protocols before granting them entry to Negros Occidental.
“APORs enjoy the privilege of unrestricted movement throughout the duration of community quarantine status. However, APORs have become carriers of the Covid-19 virus, and thereby heighten the risk in the province,” he added.
Lacson said the provincial government is adopting a set of guidelines that will cover the movement of APORs as they avail of the privileges accorded them.
They will be categorized as APOR on Official Business (OB), Emergency Travel (ET) or Indispensable Travel (IT), and Travel Not Work-Related.
Those on OB must present a certificate of work schedule indicating the number of days of stay in the province; medical certificate issued on the date of travel by a government physician; certificate of employment and employee’s identification card (ID) for workers in private companies or institutions; employee’s ID for government officials and employees; mission order, letter order, or special order for the uniformed services; travel order for government officials and employees and ID for volunteers working humanitarian organizations.
Those on ET or IT must submit a travel authority issued by the Philippine National Police (PNP); certificate for reasons of ET or IT indicating the number of days of stay in the province; medical certificate issued on the date of travel by a government physician; certificate of employment and employee’s ID for workers in private companies or institutions; employee’s ID for government officials and employees; and ID for volunteers working humanitarian organizations.
If the stay is less than 14 days, the APOR on ET or IT shall not be allowed to go out from his or her place of residence and shall be required to undergo strict home quarantine protocols for the duration of the stay, and after the APOR goes back to his or her work station, their family members shall continue to undergo home quarantine to complete the 14-day standard period, which shall be monitored by the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team.
The APORs either on OB, or ET or IT are required to notify the province through their local agencies or offices of the nature of their travel, and shall be required to comply with the usual screening procedures and fill out health declaration and locator forms.
Meanwhile, for APORs whose travel are not work-related, the general guidelines on the local health and safety protocols of the province shall apply. (Nanette Guadalquiver NDB via PNA, photo by PNA)
