NCR Plus border checkpoints now in full swing

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced that quarantine control points or checkpoints are now being fully implemented at the borders of NCR Plus. As a review, NCR Plus is consists of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite. Checkpoints are already in place at the borders to help limit the transmission of the COVID-19 Delta variant. 

Checkpoints are placed to limit movement of people, and to contain the Delta variant

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said that the checkpoints are manned by the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, a team composed of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Bureau of Fire Protection. The said task force will implement the checkpoints along the borders of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite.  

Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR) are the only individuals allowed to enter and leave the NCR Plus area as per guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF). 

Individuals crossing the borders are required to show valid IDs issued by the IATF or other official documents proving he/she is part of APOR. Unauthorized persons will not be allowed to cross borders, and will be asked to return to their homes.

Authorized Persons Outside of Residence are the only individuals allowed to move freely

Año added that additional checkpoints will be put up once Metro Manila is placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). Metro Manila will be under ECQ, the strictest quarantine classification, from August 6 to 20 due to the rising cases of COVID-19 Delta variant. However, the DILG Secretary has already instructed the PNP to start the strict implementation of travel restrictions early.

“At the moment, the QCPs are at the borders of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Cavite with adjoining provinces but once we move to ECQ starting August 6, checkpoints will now be located inside Metro Manila,” Año said in a news release.

The DILG has also ordered the PNP to allow the free movement of cargo or delivery vehicles across all checkpoints, especially those transporting food items.  

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