The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday reminded cops who will man checkpoints to ensure the free movement of cargo vans or trucks carrying essential goods ahead of the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). 

“We should ensure the free passage of cargo or delivery vehicles transporting essential items such as food supplies. This is needed so the supply of basic needs of our countrymen will not be stopped,” Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, PNP chief, said in a statement. 

Eleazar said only workforce and consumer authorized persons outside residence (APORs) will be allowed entry into the National Capital Region. 

Workforce APORs are individuals whose companies, businesses or industries they work in are allowed to work during ECQ. Consumer APORs, meanwhile, are those permitted to go out to avail of the services of the businesses. 

Cops will only allow APORs to pass if they present IATF identification cards issued by regulatory agencies and valid IDs or pertinent documents issued by establishments permitted to operate under the current quarantine status. 

The PNP chief asked for the cooperation of the public so the hardship and sacrifice of Filipinos will be worth it. 

Stricter border control in “NCR Plus” areas—Metro Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal—began on August 1. 

Metro Manila will be placed under ECQ from August 6 to 20 in a bid to contain the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 as cases of the highly-contagious Delta variant rise. Currently, the capital region is under general community quarantine “with heightened and additional restrictions.”