BLISTT mayors agree on requiring ID, health declaration form for 7 days
BAGUIO CITY – The mayors of Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay (BLISTT) agreed to require Health Declaration Form (HDF) for all their constituents passing through borders to expand contract tracing coverage of Coronavirus disease patients.
A joint BLISTT advisory was signed by mayors Benjamin Magalong, Romeo Salda, Victorio Palangdan, Manuel Munar, Clarita Sal-ongan and Armando Lauro requiring valid government issued ID as proof of residence and HDF from December 16 to 22, 2020.
The joint advisory stated that entry to and between BLISTT shall be limited to travels for work/official business and for access to essential goods and services.
“At border checkpoint, everyone is enjoined to present valid government issued ID as proof of residence with health declaration form,” the joint advisory furthered.
The following are to present valid ID only: health workers; uniformed personnel; members of contact tracing teams; members of city, municipal or provincial Covid task force; personnel in LGU and government agencies; cargo and logistics; service providers for water, electricity, telecommunications and ICT; and waste management utilities.
A uniform HDF form will be uploaded to websites of the LGUs and social media pages once finalized for easier access. It will also be made available at border checkpoints and barangay offices soon.
The uniform HDF can be printed, reproduced by users, and filled-up before passing checkpoints. Thus, multiple copies needed if passing multiple checkpoint in a day. HDF is valid for a day only.
Non-residents coming into Baguio shall follow the usual process of online registration at hdf.baguio.gov.ph and upload documents required per purpose of travel to be able to generate QR code.
The meeting was organized by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Cordillera being the BLISTT secretariat.
Coinciding with the requirement of HDF among BLISTT constituents, a marathon swab testing for 5,000 people will be conducted among frontliners and identified high risk sectors.
The test kits were sourced by Mayor Magalong from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority. Half of the 5,000 total test kits was allotted for Baguio’s marathon free testing from December 16 to 18, 2020 at the Melvin Jones grandstand.
The remaining 2,500 will be distributed to LISTT. Venue for the marathon free testing will be identified by their respective municipal health officers.
An assessment report on positivity rate of the marathon testing will guide the BLISTT mayors on whatever action will be deemed necessarry in the coming weeks.
“We are preparing for the possible surge this yuletide season,” Magalong said. – Jessa P. Samidan
