Last batch of LSIs transported to Bacolod, Iloilo, CDO: Palace

Dizon said LSIs must undergo mandatory reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests before they can be allowed to return to their home provinces. (Pixabay photo)

MANILA – The last batch of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) has been transported back to their home provinces, Malacañang announced on Friday.

In a press statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said two 2Go passenger ships were utilized in transporting LSIs to the cities of Bacolod, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro.

“We wish to inform that two 2Go passenger ships bound for Bacolod, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro are scheduled to depart today, June 26, with locally stranded individuals on board. We further wish to state that this will be the last batch of LSIs that will be allowed to return to their respective hometowns until we subject them to RT-PCR tests,” Roque said.

Vince Dizon, deputy chief implementer of the country’s national policy against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), announced on Thursday that the transit of LSIS has been temporarily stopped due to the new testing protocols that intend to curb the spread of the disease.

Dizon said LSIs must undergo mandatory reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests before they can be allowed to return to their home provinces.

He said the latest testing protocol would make sure that LSIs are “Covid-19-free” and would not be the reason for the local transmission of the virus in their respective provinces.

Roque encouraged local government units to administer RT-PCR tests in their areas and subject LSIs to quarantine.

Roque, in a virtual press briefing, said National Task Force Covid-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. issued the temporary moratorium on the transit of LSIs due to the surge of Covid-19 cases in the provinces.

He explained that the recent arrival of one million RT-PCR test kits prompted the government to come up with new health protocols in sending stranded individuals back to their homes.

Roque said LSIs need to first get a negative test result before they can be transported back to their home provinces.

“Ang sabi po ni Secretary Galvez, dahil dumating na ‘yung ating one million testing kits for PCR, pupwede na nating bigyan ang lahat ng LSIs (Secretary Galvez said that we can now test LSIS now that one million PCR test kits have arrived in the country),” Roque said.