Health and safety should still be the primary concern as the national government works with local government units (LGUs) to reconcile and harmonize protocols that will allow Filipinos to travel around the country.
This according to Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) President and Quirino Gov. Dax Cua, who on Wednesday stressed that “preventing the spread of COVID-19 to the provinces should still be our main concern if we adopt travel protocols that will be applied uniformly around the country.”
“While local chief executives like myself appreciate that we have been given the prerogative to adopt the measures intended to protect our constituents from COVID-19, we recognize that standardizing travel protocols will help avoid confusion among our kababayans who need to travel around the country,” said Cua.
Minimum health standards should still be in place, said the former legislator, for the safety of travelers and the residents of the provinces.
“We recognize that standardizing travel protocols will help avoid confusion among our kababayans who need to travel around the country.”
“Local economies around the country, especially those dependent on tourism, have really taken a hit during the pandemic,” lamented Cua.
“I think there is no debate at this point that the country has to cautiously reopen; the concern is how to do this in a manner wherein we can minimize or eliminate the risk of spreading COVID-19,” explained the ULAP chief.
“At this point, we cannot be complacent, as we have seen how COVID-19 hot spots can develop over the span of several days. Kaya natin gawin ito, pero dapat alisto pa rin tayo.”
Cua said that LGUs were willing to work with the Department of Interior and Local Government to come up with the standard guidelines, which the governor said should be finalized before the summer season so that Filipinos who want to travel to other parts of the country can do so safely.
“At this point, we cannot be complacent, as we have seen how COVID-19 hot spots can develop over the span of several days.”
“Summer is just around the corner, and it presents an opportunity for LGUs to recover a little from what has been a very challenging year. Sana magtulungan at magkasundo tayong lahat sa mga patakaran na ito.”