ILOILO City – How do you solve traffic congestion in this city now that quarantine travel restrictions have been eased?
The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) has an idea – regulate the entry to Iloilo province of Iloilo City-bound vehicles from Antique and Capiz.
Iloilo province shares borders with Antique and Capiz.
IPPO director Police Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas ordered his personnel to strengthen checkpoints at the borders.
Drivers of vehicles intending to enter Iloilo must be, among others, required to present health certificates attesting to their being free from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and asked about their purpose of entry.
“Kung wala silang ma-present na ganito, hindi sila pwedeng pumasok sa Iloilo territory. This is one way of solving the traffic problem in Iloilo City. This time magiging strict tayo kasi maraming private vehicles na pumapasok,” said Lucas.
Inspecting the province recently, Lucas observed the steady stream of private vehicles from Antique and Capiz entering Iloilo.
According to Iloilo City Police Office director Police Colonel Eric Dampal, the volume of vehicles in Iloilo City increased by around 50 percent since May 16 when the metro transitioned from enhanced community quarantine to the more relaxed general community quarantine.
“But not only the volume of vehicles; the volume of people in Iloilo City ballooned, too,” said Dampal.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. recently said the IPPO should continue operating checkpoints across the province.
“May ginabantayan pa kita,” said Defensor, and he was not just referring to people who are possible carriers of COVID-19 but also to those violating the liquor ban he imposed throughout Iloilo.
Checkpoints appeared to have ceased on May 16 when the province transitioned from enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to general community quarantine (GCQ), said Defensor.
“Damo nagabakal and transport sang liquor,” he pointed out.
The liquor ban was contained in Section 14 of Defensor’s Executive Order (EO) No. 118 placing the province under GCQ.
Defensor deemed the liquor ban an important component of the community quarantine, pointing out to the unpredictable behavior of inebriated people; physical distancing may not be followed strictly./PN
