Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto rejected the idea of distributing quarantine passes to his constituents as it will only defeat the purpose of the enhanced community quarantine being implemented by the national government.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, Sotto said that he already asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) for clarification and he found that securing quarantine passes doesn’t include the rules of the enhanced community quarantine.
Sotto explained that the said policy could only lead the additional waiting time and person-to-person contact as barangay officials and authorities needed to ensure that every people going outside of their homes have quarantine passes.
“We do NOT need Quarantine Passes WITHIN Pasig jurisdiction. Malinaw naman ang exemptions sa strict home quarantine. Wag na natin dagdagan ng requirements. Magiging karagdagang person-to-person contact at waiting time lang ito (imbis na makapunta ka ng mabilis sa tindahan, bumili ng pagkain, at umuwi na rin kaagad.)” Sotto said.
He also called the 1 per household quarantine pass as ‘useless’ and wanted the system in Pasig City to become as simple as possible.
“Isa pa, useless ang 1 per household quarantine pass na valid para sa buong quarantine period, dahil tatanungin pa rin naman ng pulis o brgy kung ano ang purpose nila sa paglabas ng bahay. Basta’t gawin na lang natin SIMPLE… kung hindi para sa trabaho, medikal, o para bumili ng pagkain/supplies… STAY HOME,” he added.
Sotto also posted the current condition in Barangay Rosario, Pasig City and guarded it to prevent the people from flocking the streets again.
On March 21, the said barangay in Pasig City became infamous after newspaper company Philippine Star posted photos of residents of Rosario neglecting the social distancing measures.
Quarantine passes became controversial after DILG received several reports that some Barangay officials are selling it to their constituents for 30 pesos each.