Wednesday, 15 April 2020 06:11

CDO implements barangay exit pass regulation

Written by Stephen Pedroza

Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno signed on Tuesday, April 14, the Executive Order 62 (EO62) to implement the Barangay Exit Pass (BEP) regulation to curb the spread of COVID-19.

 

EO62 aims to address the gathering of people in sizable crowds, a clear violation of the “Stay at Home” and social distancing guidelines of both the national and city governments under the implemented General Community Quarantine.  

 

Under EO62, the barangays are directed to adopt and implement a barangay exit pass policy, namely:

 

  1. All barangays in the city shall implement an Exit Pass Policy, which shall govern and regulate the movements of people within their respective areas of jurisdiction who may wish to leave their houses and barangays for essential purposes;

 

  1. Employees reporting to work shall only be required to present their respective Employment Identification Cards to the concerned barangay officials and personnel or the Homeowners Association (HOA) representatives, duly authorized by the barangay; and

 

  1. Residents who require urgent medical attention shall be allowed to leave their homes without the need of securing a Barangay Exit Pass.

 

All barangays are directed not to charge any fee for the issuance of the exit pass. The cost for the BEP issuance will be fully shouldered by the city government.

 

The implementation of the EO will fall under the hands of the concerned sangguniang barangay officials and personnel, tanods and the duly-authorized members of the homeowner associations within the barangay, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel under the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO).

 

The City Legal Department is also directed to initiate appropriate charges for those who will fail to follow the BEP regulation.

 

In various press briefings at the City Hall, Moreno said that there is a need to sustain the collective efforts of the government to contain the spread of COVID-19 and to provide for the simplified procedure in the issuance of exit clearances.

 

He also reminded the barangays that the Barangay Exit Passes are not equivalent to the Quarantine Completion Certificates which can only be issued by the city government.