There is a lot of scary talk about checkpoints in many parts of Metro Cebu due to news of the Delta variant of COVID-19. And to an extent, now may not be the best time to visit as a tourist.
On the other hand, it is not as if the island is suddenly closed off from the rest of the world. Those with important business in Cebu still have plenty of proverbial room to breathe. Freedom of movement is restricted for sure but a lot of the facts about those restrictions have been greatly obscured by social media panic.
Here are three reasons why a checkpoint is still not something to fear if you are driving around as a business traveler.
1. Public transportation vehicles are more susceptible.
Contrary to what some might suggest, checkpoints will not be filled with drivers being told to step out of their vehicles by troops of military officers.
In reality, the authorities are more likely on the lookout for public utility vehicles and jeepneys who are violating the minimum health protocols. (These include carrying more than the maximum number of passengers allowed and non-wearing of masks as well as absence of face-shields.)
If you are driving in either a private vehicle or a regularly-maintained rental, then you are ten times less likely to be stopped by any officer. And if you want to make those odds even lower, then simply have enough masks and shields while not having too many passengers.
2. Documentation helps but does not always need checking.
Many of the officers assigned to inspect do not have infinite hours in a day. It would be utterly impractical for them to stop every single vehicle and demand that everyone show their vaccine card or quarantine pass.
Of course, having those documents on hand is very helpful if you really had the bad luck of being flagged down for a random inspection. (Such inspections do happen just to make sure that violators are apprehended when they least expect it.)
But for the most part, any checkpoint you encounter will be one that you can just casually drive through without fear of someone blowing a whistle or calling your attention just so they can see your papers.
3. Your business is always essential.
If you have been reading the news, then you will see a lot of talk about apprehending people who are going out for ‘non-essential’ reasons. What then counts as essential?
Surprisingly, the list of things that qualify has actually expanded since the onset of the crisis (and after a few officials were actually lambasted for being too strict to the point of interfering with much-needed food deliveries).
Tourism and hospitality may have taken another hit but Cebu is still home to many large call centers and other BPO companies. Practically every business traveler coming to the city is in this space, so even something as simple as wearing your company ID can already tell officers not to waste your time. Being part of one of the few active sectors of the economy is essential for very obvious reasons.
Just like in many parts of the Philippines, the implementation of pandemic-related rules has undergone a lot of pains and gains. Both the government and the citizens have learned plenty of lessons on how to best see themselves through this crisis. You can count on a more practical approach to checkpoints as one of them!
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