No letup in bringing LSIs and ROFs home - Gov. Tamayo

By: Danilo E. Doguiles, PIA XII

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, June 17 (PIA) -- “There is no chance that we will not bring home our locally stranded individuals and returning overseas Filipinos,” South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. said.

Tamayo’s statement was a response to question whether he considers halting the local Balik Probinsiya initiative after a number of the returning residents tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“As I have said, at all cost we will bring them home, but under proper protocol,” Gov. Tamayo continues.

Data from the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) showed that from May 25 until June 15, South Cotabato received a total of 1,391 individuals through the provincial LGU’s local Balik Probinsiya Program.

This number consists of 1,060 LSIs and 331 ROFs.

Eight of the LSIs and ROFs who arrived here since last week of May have tested positive for COVID-19, which raised the total number of confirmed COVID in the province to 12 in only about two weeks. All of them are confined in isolation facilities and are in stable condition.

The latest arrival included nearly 300 LSIs who travelled aboard 2GO sea vessels from Metro Manila to Cagayan de Oro City. The provincial government hired 10 buses to fetch the LSIs from CdO. This batch of LSIs arrived in Koronadal City Wednesday (June 17) dawn. In an earlier press conference, Gov. Tamayo emphasized that the provincial government is determined in bringing home stranded residents to South Cotabato “where we can take care of them.”

“My only request is for all of the LSIs and the ROFs to strictly follow the protocols that we have set. These rules are intended for the protection of their family and the people of South Cotabato,” he said.

These protocols include obligatory 14-day quarantine at home subject to availability of dedicated room and toilet or in facilities built or designated by the receiving local government units.

South Cotabato provincial government’s initiative to assist residents stranded in Metro Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and other places in the country started in April with the Arts, Culture, Tourism, Sports (ACTS) Promotion Unit in partnership with the Department of Tourism advising South Cotabateños stuck outside of the province due to the pandemic to register for possible assistance, in case opportunities arise for them to be allowed to travel.

Later, this developed into a full operation of the provincial government and its component city and municipal government units with the ACTS Promotion Unit leading in contacting stranded residents, coordinating with tourism offices and LGUs in places of origin, advising residents on the documents to be prepared, coordinating with receiving LGUs for needed documents and quarantine accommodation, arranging air, sea, or land travels, and other other activities.

PLGU South Cotabato chartered two Cebu Pacific flights on May 30 and 31 to bring home residents stranded in Metro Manila and Cebu City and neighboring places. South Cotabato LGU spent P2.1 M for the special flights.

The provincial government also hired buses to fetch LSIs and ROFs from seaports and airports in Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City.

From points of arrival and places of origin, LSIs and ROFs are brought to the parking lot of the South Cotabato Sports Complex in Koronadal City for disinfection and documentation. They are immediately endorsed to receiving LGUs for mandatory quarantine.

Gov. Tamayo estimated that at least a thousand more LSIs and ROFs are returning to South Cotabato in the coming weeks.