LGUs told to accept returning LSIs this weekend

During a Laging Handa briefing on Friday, DILG spokesman and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said a total of 4,000 LSIs will be sent off under the “Hatid Tulong” program for LSIs bound for some areas in Mindanao and Luzon from July 4 to 5. (File Photo: PTV/Website)

MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday urged local government units (LGUs) to accept returning locally stranded individuals (LSIs) to their respective localities this weekend.

During a Laging Handa briefing on Friday, DILG spokesman and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said a total of 4,000 LSIs will be sent off under the “Hatid Tulong” program for LSIs bound for some areas in Mindanao and Luzon from July 4 to 5.

Malaya made the statement in wake of several LGUs’ apprehensions in taking in the LSIs, claiming that the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases have soared since their arrival.

“Inuulit po namin ‘yung panawagan ng ating Pangulo (Rodrigo Duterte) na ito pong mga locally stranded individuals ay may karapatan din pong umuwi. Nakikiusap po kami sa mga LGUs na makipagtulungan sa (We reiterate the call of the President. These LSIs also have the right to return home. We ask the LGUs to cooperate with the) DILG,” he said.

He noted that the DILG continuously gets in touch with the concerned LGUs regarding the arrival of the LSIs for them to make the necessary preparations.

To allay their fears, Malaya said the LSIs have medical certificates and have undergone rapid testing for Covid-19.

He added that LGUs are free to implement their own health protocols on arriving LSIs.

“At kung gugustuhin po ng mga LGUs na mag-conduct sila ng PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, pwede rin po nilang gawin ‘yun (If the LGUs want to conduct a PCR test, they can do that). They can also put them in quarantine for them to be sure that all arriving LSIs will not be a cause of Covid-19 transmission,” he said.

LSIs bound for Mindanao and Luzon would be sent off on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

The LSIs will be escorted by the PNP-Highway Patrol Group to ensure their safe travel onboard the 100 buses lent by Narvacan, Ilocos Sur Mayor Luis “Chavit’’ Singson.

He noted that three ships, a Philippine National Railways (PNR) train and a C-130 government plane will also be used to bring home the LSIs.

Currently, 177 LSIs are now at the Villamor Airbase Elementary School while 754 are inside the Philippine Army Gym.

Swab tests will not be required for LSIs prior to travel since the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has not yet approved the inclusion of LSIs in mandatory swabbing.

“Antayin na lang po nila ‘yung pagli-lift ng suspension ng pagpapauwi sa LSIs (Let’s just wait for the lifting of the suspension on the travel of the LSIs),” Malaya said.

LSIs bound for provinces in Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas, as well as Cebu Island, Mactan, and Caraga Region are not included in the program after the IATF-EID earlier approved a moratorium on the return of LSIs in these areas.