The City Hall of Zamboanga (PNA file photo)
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) has warned the public, especially outbound travelers, against unscrupulous people collecting payment for the issuance of an “exit pass”.
Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario, CDRRMO chief and local Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) chief implementer, issued the warning Tuesday as reports reached his office that certain individuals were charging some amount for the issuance of exit pass to outbound travelers.
“The city government does not require any document or payment for that matter, from travelers leaving the city through the borders, be it by land, air or sea,” Apolinario said in a phone interview Tuesday.
“We don’t issue any exit or entry pass anymore as the city is now under Alert Level 2 and the city government doesn’t charge anything for any issuance,” Apolinario added.
He said that also “no fees too” is being collected for the issuance of the Safe, Swift, and Smart Passage (S-Pass) for inbound travelers.
The S-Pass is an online travel management system developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in line with the national IATF-EID Resolution No. 101.
The CDRRMO chief said he has already requested the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, he said they have lifted the verification process of the S-Pass application to hasten the travel of inbound travelers.
The verification process for an S-Pass application was lifted after this city was classified as “unrestricted” destination by the national IATF-EID effective December 16.
“Although the S-Pass application is still mandatory, but the approval will be automatic for as long as all documentary requirements are uploaded in the system,” Apolinario said.
He said that the verification of requirements will be done by health authorities at the city’s point of entry—airport, seaport, or land borders of Licomo or Limpapa.
Before this city was classified as an unrestricted destination, travelers will have to wait for the approval of their online S-Pass application before their actual travel. (PNA)
