Students studying in general community quarantine (GCQ) areas may finally retrieve property from their dormitories as soon as the 75-day long enhanced community quarantine measures are lifted by June 1.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque clarified that intercity travel between GCQ areas will be allowed under some conditions.

“Hindi pa po aalisin ang mga checkpoints para nga po masigurado na walang gagala-gala lamang. Pero kung gusto na po ninyong umuwi, GCQ to GCQ pupuwede na po iyan,” Roque said in a DZBB interview.

“Siguro naman kung uuwi kayo talaga marami kayong dalang mga gamit, so ipakita lang po ninyo ang mga gamit ninyo at sabihin ninyo, ipakita ninyo ID ninyo kung saan kayo nakatira at sabihin lang na pauwi na sila dahil ngayon lang po nagbukas,” he added.

Roque reiterated that the youth (aged 21 below) and elderly (aged 60 above, unemployed) will remain under lockdown, but with few exceptions.

When asked how families will travel with members whose ages fall on the restricted to travel category, Roque said: “Siyempre po puwede dahil hindi naman pupuwedeng iwan lang… [k]aya kinakailangan isama po ninyo kung uuwi na kayo at maiintindihan naman po iyon ng mga checkpoints.”

Roque said that checkpoints have been given orders to only give warnings to non-essential travelers, and said going home to provinces is essential travel.

Provincial buses will also remain banned from entering Metro Manila in the month of June. (John Ezekiel J Hirro)