ILOILO City – After two weeks of suspension, the repatriation of Ilonggos stranded elsewhere around the country resumes today.
A government-sponsored sweeper flight from Manila would be flying to the city the first batch of 140 LSIs, according to COVID Team spokesperson Jeck Conlu.
Earlier, the National Task Force Against Coronavirusdisease 2019 (COVID-19) enforced a 14-day suspension of LSI trips to Iloilo City following the appeal of local government units in Region 6.
Mayor Jerry Treñas, for his part, cited the surge in COVID-19 infections and frontliners of the city government should focus on these cases.
He also warned of shortages in quarantine facilities if the return of LSIs is not properly paced.
But this time, Conlu said the city government is now ready to welcome back stranded Ilonggos.
“We have prepared 500 beds,” Conlu said.
Jaro National High School and other schools are now being prepared to temporarily house LSIs who would be quarantined while waiting for their COVID test results.
“Ang aton ‘ya mga quarantine facilities nagahatag sang free nga pagkaon. Libre ang aton quarantine facility pero may option man gihapon ang aton LSIs, kon makasarang sila mag-hotel, gina-allow man but on their own expense,” the COVID Team spokesperson explained.
He disclosed that there would more LSIs arriving to the city in the coming days via ships from Manila, Palawan, Cebu, and Cagayan.
To return to their provinces, LSIs are required to secure and/or fulfill the following:
* travel authority from the Philippine National Police
* medical certificate stating they have no symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019
* prior coordination with the receiving LGU
For ROFs, these are the requirements:
* COVID-negative test result (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test)
* completion of 14-day quarantine
* medical certificate stating they have no symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019
* prior coordination with the receiving LGU
Most of the LSIs were stranded in Metro Manila during the enhanced community quarantine period from mid-March to end of May – a protocol that banned sea, land and air transportation./PN
