ILOILO City – The return to Western Visayas of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from Cebu has been temporarily stopped, according to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 6.
The suspension took effect on June 20, said DILG-Iloilo director Teodora Sumagaysay, citing the advisory of Assistant Regional Director Maria Calpiza Sardua.
Cebu was again placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) on June 16 due to a surge in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) there, said Sumagaysay.
She, however, clarified that only the return of LSIs from Cebu was suspended. The return to Region 6 of overseas workers stranded in Cebu would continue, she stressed.
“Overseas workers are required to undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test (and the result must be COVID-negative),” Sumagaysay explained.
With this requirement, she said, “We are assured nga medyo slim ang chance nga mag-positive sila (in a repeat test when they arrive in Iloilo).”
LSIs, on the other hand, are not required to undergo RT-PCR test for their return to Western Visayas.
When would the suspension of LSIs’ return be lifted?
No date has been set, said Sumagaysay. But she indicated this may depend on the COVID-19 rate in Cebu.
The suspension aims to protect the people of Western Visayas from the coronavirus, she explained.
Region 6 is currently under an extended modified general community quarantine.
Sumagaysay appealed for patience, understanding and cooperation from the LSIs and their families.
She also revealed that Director Leocadio Trovela of DILG Region 7 (Central Visayas) where Cebu belongs also issued an advisory suspending temporarily the movement of LSIs there.
Friday last week, Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said he would ask the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) to temporarily stop sending back to Iloilo the Ilonggos stranded in Cebu citing the rising number of COVID-19 infections there.
“Time out anay kay naglapuyot didto ang transmission,” said Defensor. “Let us assess the situation first.”
Defensor also said the Iloilo provincial government may require LSIs from Cebu intending to return to Iloilo to first undergo RT-PCR test there, and they must be negative from COVID-19.
“Para gamay ang risgu,” said Defensor.
These past few weeks, LSIs returning to Iloilo from Cebu and other parts of the country were not required to pass RT-PCR tests. They were only asked to present a travel authority and certificate stating they completed 14 days of quarantine.
On May 25 President Rodrigo Duterte ordered concerned government agencies to bring home all overseas Filipino workers and other people stuck in Metro Manila and elsewhere due to the quarantine.
The agencies concerned were the Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Department of Health./PN
