ILOILO City – A total of 402 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) aboard the BRP Davao Del Sur safely arrived at the Iloilo City Domestic Port yesterday.
The repatriation mission, dubbed the “Gugma Hatid Pag-Asa Program”, was organized by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) under the leadership of Secretary Carlito Galvez as well as the Joint Task Force COVID Shield, upon the request of the Lone District Office of Iloilo City headed by Rep. Julienne “Jam-jam” L. Baronda.
This voyage is one of the few trips to utilize a ship of the Philippine Navy.
“I have witnessed the difficulties experienced by many LSIs. Aside from the constant fear of contracting the (coronavirus) disease, they endured a lot of other hardships brought about by the lockdown,” said Baronda.
Now that there are opportunities to bring them home, Baronda said, “We will do everything within our capacity to reunite them with their families.”
This repatriation effort would not be possible without the support of the Iloilo City Government headed by Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, various government agencies and officials, especially Secretary Galvez, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and the IATF Region 6, said Baronda.
Further, Iloilo City’s first congresswoman expressed her gratitude to Cong. Sharon Garin of AAMBIS-OWA party-list, Cong. Greg Gasataya of Bacolod City and Vice Gov. Christine Garin of Iloilo for helping her facilitate the financial assistance, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, for the LSIs.
Baronda also thanked Mayor Sara Duterte of Davao City for the test kits as well as the men and women of the Philippine Navy for warmly accommodating the LSIs.
In addition to this, Baronda extended her appreciation to the Support Group, Special Assistant to the President for attending to the needs of the LSIs while at Villamor Airbase.
All those who made the trip had to comply with the health protocols set by the IATF.
After taking the rapid test at the Villamor Airbase, they were shuttled by Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force buses to Pier 13 where BRP Davao del Sur was docked.
Prior to this endeavor, Rep. Baronda also facilitated several trips assisting stranded individuals, seafarers and other OFWs.
Philippine Navy’s strategic sealift vessel, BRP Davao Del Sur departed from Pier 13, South Harbor, Manila on Monday.
In a public address late Monday night, President Rodrigo Duterte appealed to local officials to accept returning LSIs and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“Ang pakiusap lang…tanggapin nila ‘yung mga tao,” he said.
According to the President, local governments that refuse OFWs and LSIs would run into “a gamut of so many problems.”
“They cannot refuse to accept a Filipino. You cannot do that, deny the Filipino to go home? Mahirap ‘yan,” he said./PN
