With the upcoming implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) this week in the National Capital Region and other quarantine classifications in different parts of the country, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) stresses that providing mobility to authorised persons outside of residence (APORs), while ensuring their health and safety, must always be considered in implementing policies that restrict the movement of the general public.

While the CHR fully understands the government’s move to manage the surge of infection brought about by the Covid Delta variant, APORs, including medical frontline workers and those working in essential establishments, such as restaurants, supermarkets, and banks among others, should not be deprived access to a safe way of commuting.

The Philippine National Police’s (PNP) plan to ban the practice of fetching APORs to and from their workplaces jeopardises their ability to carry out their crucial roles in combatting the pandemic. It also exposes them to higher risk of infection as there is no guarantee that there are enough public utility vehicles available during ECQ.

The negative impact on frontliners’ ability to perform their duties is far worse than the harm or abuse they seek to prevent from this policy.

We call on the PNP to review this measure and put into consideration the welfare of our APORs. The issue of alleged abuse of this ‘hatid-sundo’ scheme raised by the authorities can be addressed by requiring documentary proof that the passengers and driver of the vehicle are indeed APORs or authorised persons to fetch APORs.

Instead of causing additional burden, the government must recognise the invaluable contributions of frontline health and service workers and seek ways on how to support them in fulfilling their duties. ###