By Jennifer P. Rendon
Generally, the conduct of border checkpoints all over the region was uneventful.
Save for some complaints of motorboats who claimed they were not immediately allowed entry despite carrying in goods and medical supplies, the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 said that it was not bombarded with complaints.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, attributed this to the fact that the people were informed of the border restrictions ahead of the implementation.
As of Wednesday, March 18, PRO-6 deployed 645 personnel to 118 quarantine control points (QCPs) all over the region.
Antique province has the most number of QCPs with 33 manned by 157 personnel.
Aklan has 25 QCPs and 120 personnel; Iloilo province with 17 QCPs and 127 personnel; Capiz with 16 QCPs and 76 personnel; and Bacolod City with 12 QCPs and 84 personnel.
Meanwhile, the province of Guimaras only has 6 QCPs with 23 personnel; Iloilo City with 5 QCPs and 32 personnel and Negros Occidental with 4 QCPs and 28 personnel.
Based on the PRO-6 assessment report on March 18, it intensified the conduct of checkpoints on the established QCPs in coordination with Inter-Agency Task Force coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to prevent the spread of the virus.
The PRO-6 already organized a Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) that is ready for deployment and assist the Department of Health.
Malong said they already deployed officers to airports and seaports to assist the Task Force Novel Coronavirus (NCOV) in ensuring that all passengers are screened before entering.
An area supervisor was also designated to check the operational readiness of every police station in their basic functions and response if the situation escalates into alarming levels.
Malong also assured regular coordination with the local government units and municipal health officers to monitor persons under investigation and possible contact tracing.
PRO-6 also cascaded to field personnel on how to use the personal protective equipment.
But the regional police only have 10 PPEs available in case they are asked to assist health personnel.
“While in the conduct of checkpoints, we advocated that our personnel should wear masks and gloves,” Malong said.
But in the absence of protection gear, policemen were given Vitamin C to boost their immunity.
Detailed PNP personnel also conducted thermal scanning of all visitors on the entrance and exit of police camps.
“We have also been consistently reminding our personnel to be safe at all times against the spread of COVID-19,” Malong said.
They were also told to maintain security/defense posture and offensive stance against enemy attacks and not to comprise the security of personnel as they perform their duties.
