Police stations, LGUs to form 'one-stop shop' for LSIs

(File photo)

MANILA – The Joint Task Force Covid Shield (JTF CV Shield) on Friday, June 19 ordered chiefs of municipal and city police stations to coordinate with their respective local government units (LGUs) to establish a “one-stop shop” that will process documents for travel of locally stranded individuals (LSIs). 

In a statement, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for operations and concurrent task force commander, said the move is upon instructions of PNP chief, Gen. Archie Gamboa.

He said coordination between local police officials and LGUs is essential as the medical clearance certificate being issued by the local city and municipal health office, is one of the two main requirements for the issuance of travel authority.

The other requirement for the issuance of the travel authority is the coordination by the concerned local task forces against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

"As per the guidance of Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (SILG) Eduardo Año, the ‘one-stop shop' shall provide prompt and efficient assistance to all LSIs within their area of responsibility, particularly in securing medical clearance certificate (MCC) and travel authority,” he said.

The issuance of a travel authority, which has been delegated to the chiefs of police and police station commanders, is needed for the travel of LSIs and emergency travelers that cross the borders of Metro Manila and provinces.

Eleazar said the city and municipal ‘one-stop-shop’ could be established inside the municipal and city hall, in police stations or in any area depending on the decision of the local chief executive.

He said Año also advised the local chief executives to designate a hotline number for their respective 'one-stop shop' in order to reach out to as many LSIs in their respective areas of responsibility.

“These hotline numbers shall be published in social media accounts or website of the LGUs. All punong barangays (village chairpersons) were also advised to initiate information dissemination in their respective communities about the one-stop shop in order to inform and assist the LSIs in their respective barangays,” said Eleazar, quoting Año.

Eleazar also reminded the public to observe health protocols when going to the city or municipal 'one-stop shop' such as wearing of face masks and observing the proper physical distancing.

The city and municipal 'one-stop shops' are expected to regularly report to the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on the progress of their assistance to the LSIs and emergency travelers.

On the part of the JTF CV Shield, Eleazar said they will be sending copies of the nationwide travel protocol flowchart, which they crafted in order to answer all the Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs) about domestic travels, to the ‘one-stop shop’ for information dissemination purposes.

The flowchart provides a simplified explanation of all matters relating to travels amid the continuous implementation of the quarantine rules. (PNA, MINDANAO EXPOSE')