The Police Regional Office-12 (Soccsksargen) said it has deployed at least 172 additional police personnel in the highway borders of the region in line with the general community quarantine being implemented starting midnight Sunday due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) threat.

Brig. Gen. Alfred Corpus, PRO-12 director, said in a statement the augmentation personnel were from various units in the regional headquarters and assigned to manage the checkpoint operations in the region’s entry points.

Corpus said the deployment was based on the quarantine guidelines set by the joint Regional Peace and Order and Regional Disaster Risk-Reduction Management Council of Soccsksargen.

It prohibited “border entries” to the region during the quarantine period, except those for the transport of food and other basic goods, for work, medical emergencies, and government functions.

The movement of persons within localities are limited to essential travels such as medical emergencies, purchase of basic necessities, and work.

For land travel, cargo trucks and vehicles are only allowed to have a driver and helper.

Those allowed to travel within the region without restrictions are persons involved in medical services, emergency response, security services, provision of daily essentials, funeral services and government workers with authorization.

“Our work is simple — ensure that no one will enter Region 12 except those who are authorized,” Corpus said on Sunday afternoon.

He said the deployed personnel have already undergone orientation on the quarantine guidelines, especially their tasks and roles in conducting the checkpoints.

These include the establishment of fast lanes for vehicles transporting food supplies and other basic commodities, he said.

He said they should make sure that persons entering the borders will pass by the thermal scanners and those found with fever and other suspected symptoms of Covid-19 will be turned over to health personnel.

Corpus said the concerned personnel also underwent orientation from the Regional Health Service-12 regarding safety measures to avoid contamination from the deadly disease.

He said they were given food supplies, medicines and other basic necessities for their month-long deployment

The police official said they provided them with at least 400 improvised protective face shields and 400 pieces of alternative face masks.

He said these were donated by the Officer Ladies Club of Region 12, which is composed of the spouses of police officers in the region. (PNA)