Travel authority for LSIs bound for W. Visayas suspended

In a statement Monday, Joint Task Force Covid Shield (JTF CV Shield) commander, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, said the move is upon the decision of the National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF Covid-19) based on the request of the local government units (LGUs) in the region. (PNA file photo)

MANILA – The issuance of travel authority for all locally stranded individuals (LSIs) headed for Region 6 (Western Visayas) provinces has been suspended for now.

In a statement Monday, Joint Task Force Covid Shield (JTF CV Shield) commander, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, said the move is upon the decision of the National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF Covid-19) based on the request of the local government units (LGUs) in the region.

“The issuance of the travel authority for all travels of LSIs to Western Visayas is suspended for two weeks as per instruction from the NTF Covid-19. We will wait for further notice as to when the repatriation of LSIs to this region would resume,” Eleazar said.

In coordination with the Philippine National Police, the JTF CV Shield has advised all police commanders to implement the measure.

Western Visayas, composed of the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental, is the second region to request for the suspension of travel of returning LSIs.

LGUs in Eastern Visayas earlier requested for the measure as quarantine facilities in the region have reached full capacity.

Eleazar appealed for understanding from the LSIs, saying there are valid reasons for the suspension of travel wherein one of the major considerations being factored in is the situation in the destination LGU.

LGUs have been implementing their respective quarantine protocols for arriving LSIs to protect their respective constituents from the coronavirus disease which might be carried by asymptomatic LSIs.

Part of the local protocols is for the LSIs to be quarantined in isolation facilities designated by the LGUs before they are allowed to join their respective families.

For other regions, the official said the issuance of travel authority is still being approved provided that the LSIs would submit a Medical Clearance Certificate which is one of the two requirements for the issuance of the document.

Another requirement before issuance of a travel authority is coordination with the LGU-destination.

“Unless there are new instructions and guidelines, these two requirements are still in effect for the issuance of Travel Authority to our stranded kababayans,” said Eleazar.