Gov’t to assist LSIs camped outside Libingan ng mga Bayani

FILE: Finally, these locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from Bicol Province will be reunited with their families through the government’s “Hatid Tulong” Program as they board a Philippine National Railways (PNR) train at Tutuban station in Manila on Saturday (June 20, 2020). (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)

MANILA – The government is preparing to assist qualified locally-stranded individuals (LSIs) camping outside the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City through the “Hatid Tulong” program, Presidential Management Staff Assistant Secretary Joseph Encabo said Friday.

Encabo, lead convenor of the Hatid Tulong initiative, said the program secretariat is profiling about 430 individuals who have reportedly set up makeshift tents outside the Libingan ng mga Bayani, hoping to avail of government-sponsored trips going back to their respective provinces.

After the profiling, he said, qualified LSIs would be transferred to a more decent temporary shelter and receive the usual government assistance under Hatid Tulong as they wait for their travel schedules.

The Hatid Tulong secretariat has been scouting for a place where these LSIs could be immediately transferred, Encabo said.

“Kapag nakakita na po kami ng tamang lugar para po gawing temporary shelter ay bibigyan naman namin sila ng pagkakataon na maka-avail noon (Once we find the right place to convert into a temporary shelter, we will give them the opportunity to avail of it),” he said.

Encabo said the government continues to identify possible areas to convert into temporary shelters as the cemetery’s transitory house is full.

“At patuloy din po kami na humihingi ng tulong sa ibang ahensiya para matustusan po ang kanilang food assistance (We also continue to seek help from other agencies to sustain their food assistance),” he added.

Encabo assured that the government is doing its best to address the concerns of the LSIs.

The program secretariat, he said, has been coordinating with other national agencies and local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila to immediately house the campers.

“Most likely bago po magtapos ang linggo na ito ay makakita na po tayo ng mga karagdagang temporary shelters (before the end of this week, we could find additional temporary shelters),” Encabo said.

To avail of the government-sponsored trips, LSIs have to undergo a health assessment by the program’s technical working group, he said.

The Hatid Tulong program will resume right after transport workers have completed the health assessment and quarantine required under the Department of Health’s protocols and guidelines.

“Kung mayroon naman din pong available kaagad na mga barko o bus na puwede na nating pabiyahihin ay iyon din ang aming hakbang na gagawin para maihatid na po natin sila sa kanilang mga probinsiya (If there are available ships or buses, we can allow them to travel to bring the LSIs back to their provinces),” Encabo said.

To avoid overcrowding during the scheduled trips, he said the government would use a clustering system, wherein only a small group of stranded individuals would be served at a time.

“Kailangan po kasi nating balansehin. Hindi kasi kaagad natin iyan mapauwi lahat nang sabay-sabay (We need to strike a balance. We cannot send all of them home at once),” Encabo said, noting that the scheduled travel would depend on the regions.

Meanwhile, he urged the LSIs to follow the process of the Hatid Tulong by coordinating with the program secretariat before flocking to the designated serving areas.

“Para sa ating mga kababayang LSIs, sana po obserbahan natin iyong proseso sa pamamagitan ng pagrehistro ng inyong sarili sa inyong sariling LGU dahil kami po sa level namin, kami po ay nagpapatuloy at nakikipag-ugnayan sa mga LGUs ninyo (To our LSIs, please observe our process by registering yourself with your LGU because we coordinate with your LGUs),” Encabo said.

He reminded LSIs to secure their travel documents and process their travel dates before attending the send-offs.

Encabo appealed to the public to refrain from spreading false advisories regarding travel schedules and send-off activities of the Hatid Tulong, as this causes scenarios similar to the one at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

He urged LSIs to only get information from the program secretariat.