This Week in Northern Luzon (June 27 to July 2, 2020)

The Public Information Office of Baguio has released an announcement regarding the issuance of Travel Authority - Indispensable Travel for all frontliners and humanitarian reasons. Starting June 22, 2020, the issuance of travel authority will be held at the PFVR Gym, Military Cut-off Road. The operating schedule is from Monday to Friday, and cut-off time is every 12:00 NN. The process of receiving documents and assessment will be from 8:00 AM to 12:00 NN and encoding will be from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Here are the requirements needed for the travel authority:

1. Barangay Endorsement from the office of the Association of Barangay Council (ABC) at PFVR Gym

2. Health Certificate from any of the District Health Centers or at PFVR Gym

3. Travel Authority from BCPO stationed at the PFVR Gym, Military Cut-off Road

As for the issuance of an Inter Region Work Clearance Certificate, these following requirements are needed:

1. Barangay Endorsement from the office of the Association of Barangay Council (ABC) at PFVR Gym

2. Health Certificate from any of the District Health Centers or at PFVR Gym

3. Certificate of Employment indicating place of assignment or copy of Business Permit

4. Company ID

All will be processed at the PFVR Gym, Military Cut-off Road. Releasing will be at least two days after the submission of documents. [1]

In a social media post, Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan shared an advisory from the Municipal Health Services Offices that contain requirements and processes to be followed for travels within the province. The advisory, dated June 10, 2020, stated what people traveling within Benguet, locally stranded individuals, and residents traveling outside Benguet who intend to return to Itogon must do.

People traveling within Benguet have to follow these steps:

1. Secure Health Declaration Forms (HDF) from their respective barangays.

2. Upon presentation of Barangay pass or certification and HDF, Medical Clearance Certificate will be issued.

Locally stranded individuals must secure the following requirements:

1. Barangay Certification and Health Declaration Form (HDF)

2. Medical Clearance Certificate

3. PNP’s Authority to travel

Residents traveling outside benguet who intend to return to Itogon have to get the following documents:

1. Barangay Certification and Health Declaration Form (HDF)

2. Medical Clearance Certificate

3. Mayor’s Travel Permit

4. PNP’s Authority to travel

The advisory also reminds the public that the issuance of medical clearance certificates will be from Mondays to Fridays, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. [2]

Last June 19, 2020, The Land Transportation Office - Cordillera Administrative Region released a public advisory containing guidelines for commuters as per the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases. Passengers who take public utility jeepneys are asked to take note of the PUJ’s plate number and their date and time of boarding. Taxi and bus passengers must sign at the passenger’s manifest or logbook.

Based on the temporary transportation scheme published through Baguio City’s Public Information Office, public utility vehicles for interzonal transportation may not operate until guidelines have been released by the government. [3]

The Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council together with the Kennon Road Inter-Agency Task Force said that construction and inspection works are still being done on Kennon Road to ensure the safety of riders. The Department of Public Works and Highways are currently working on slope protection and other works along various sections of the road. DPWH is also inspecting critical areas of the road as the rainy season has begun. With that being said, the road will remain closed to the public until further notice or until DPWH finishes its ongoing safety precaution works. [4]

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that despite the city’s downgrade to the modified general community quarantine, he will not be lifting the liquor ban in Benguet. Magalong said that drinking sessions in the city and nearby La Trinidad involving COVID-19 infected individuals should not be repeated. Meanwhile, bars and other entertainment establishments serving liquor are still not allowed to operate during community quarantine. [5]

Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Baguio and Northern Luzon.