PNP reverses policy on APORs, says they can now be fetched from work 

Part of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) regulations in Metro Manila is that only authorized persons outside of residence (APORs) will be allowed to travel to and from work. As they are technically the only ones permitted to go out, they cannot be accompanied by anyone else from the same household, so says the Philippine National Police (PNP). 

Medical frontliners and other essential workers can now be driven by household members to and from work

Following public outcry over the pronouncement, PNP Chief General Guillermo Eleazar declared that APORs can now be fetched by their companions. “Ngayon po, after weighing all these things, nagbigay po ng bagong guidance na ia-allow na po ‘yun, itong mga ito, itong mga non-APOR na maghahatid sa ating mga APOR,” he said.   

(Now, after weighing all these things, we have received new guidance allowing non-APORs to drive and fetch our APORs)

Non-APORs will need to present proof that they are designated drivers for APORs in their households

However, non-APORs will need to present proof that they are authorized fetchers for APORs within their household. “We will require the (APOR’s) employer na mag-issue ng certificate of employment na nakalagay doon syempre, kung sino ‘yung worker APOR na ‘yun, kung ano ‘yung, pati po ‘yung detalye doon, and then nakalagay din doon kung sino ‘yung designated na itong worker APOR na ito na kasama niya sa bahay, na driver niya, pati ‘yung description ng sasakyan,” he explained.

(We will require the APOR’s employer to issue a certificate of employment detailing the APOR worker’s name, who the designated driver is within their household, even the physical description of the vehicle to be used)  

The PNP previously said that public transportation should be sufficient for those who need to work outside

The PNP Chief adds that the document should also contain contact numbers, and that it should be attached to a valid business permit to show that the worker is part of the industries permitted to operate under ECQ. These would have to be carried by non-APOR drivers at all times for random checks to be conducted by the PNP. 

Eleazar previously said that APORs cannot be fetched by non-APORs from work even if they belong to the same household, reasoning that the privilege could be abused. He noted that public transportation is still permitted to operate at the same capacities prior to ECQ for this purpose. However, critics said that not allowing APORs to be fetched by private vehicles only increases their chances of contracting the COVID-19 Delta variant.   

More mobility updates right here at Philkotse.com.