Taguig stops barangay collection for travel permit

Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano ordered barangay officials to immediately stop collecting payment from emergency or essential workers for permits to travel during the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine.

This came after the city government learned that there are some barangays charging essential workers for a permit to travel outside a barangay.

The local government of Taguig said it does not allow barangays to charge emergency or essential workers for a permit.

“Let it be clear that Mayor Lino Cayetano ordered that no fees shall be imposed by the barangays on those who need passes, like medical and emergency workers because they are essential workers,” the local government unit (LGU) said in a statement.

 Taguig said it will continue to protect its people against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

 The city government, meanwhile, did not mention in the statement which barangays reportedly collected money in exchange for travel permit.

On March 17, Cayetano ordered the lockdown of the city to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Like other LGUs in Metro Manila, Taguig City is also imposing a curfew as agreed by Metro Manila mayors in an emergency meeting of the Metro Manila Council.