‘Third wave’ of assistance to members in preparation
The National Press Club of the Philippines has welcomed the reiteration made by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF for short) that the IATF ID it issued for members of the press remains a valid pass and should be recognized by those manning the various checkpoints during the period of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
The NPC earlier made the request for clarification from the IATF, thru the PCOO, DILG and the PNP, in view of mounting complaints by members of the press that some checkpoints are not recognizing the IATF ID and instead are looking for the new ‘Rapid Pass’ ID.
The rapid pass, however, is merely designed to allow faster passage at checkpoints to further minimize person-to-person contact between those manning the checkpoints and those allowed to perform essential tasks during the ECQ that include the members of the press. It is not a replacement or a new requirement to be able to pass through any checkpoint.
The NPC also reminded those manning the checkpoints to recognize the validity of the media IDs of members of the press in the provinces, a policy that has not been rescinded until now.
Meanwhile, with the announcement early today, April 24, 2020, that the ECQ would remain in force up to May 15 in several regions– Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog, parts of Bicol, Central Luzon and parts of the Visayas and Mindanao– the Club also assured its members of continued assistance during the extended lockdown period.
“Even as the ‘second wave’ of NPC assistance to members are now being distributed, we assure our members that the Club is already working on the third wave of assistance with the extension of the lockdown,” NPC Vice Pres. Paul Gutierrez said.
“We expect this to be ready by the first week of May,” he added.
The first wave of NPC assistance to its members and the various local press corps was distributed beginning last March 16.
This consists of 5 kilos of rice and dried fish; the second wave now being distributed consists of 5 kilos of rice, milk, multi-vitamins and food supplement. ###