By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here urged locally stranded individuals (LSIs) to take the necessary adjustments to avoid any discomfort in their travel following the suspension of the issuance of travel authority for LSIs going to areas under the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ).
In a press release, Nocppo said the suspension covers LSIs who will travel to the National Capital Region, and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna.
The suspension, which is part of the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) protocol observed in places under MECQ, started last August 4 and will end on August 18, unless extended.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday reimposed the MECQ in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna for two weeks, following an appeal from the medical community for tougher lockdowns to contain the outbreak brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Exempted from the suspension are Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) or the essential workers of sectors permitted by the IATF, persons on Indispensable Travel (IT), and outbound overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who are returning to work.
Meanwhile, a total of 1,906 individuals were arrested in the province for violating the health protocols from March 17 to August 2, based on the police records.
The number includes 1,733 curfew violators and 173 other violators who are not wearing face masks, not observing social distancing, and mass gathering in public places.
