ILOILO – An uptick in the number of active cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) forced the towns of Carles and Miag-ao to suspend the repatriation of locally stranded individuals (LSIs).
As of Sunday, Miag-ao had 68 active infections out of the total 119 confirmed cases.
Carles, on the other hand, logged 41 confirmed cases, five of which were active.
In asking for a travel moratorium, the local government units cited reasons like disinfection and decongestion of quarantine facilities.
The Regional Inter-Agency Task Force (RIATF) approved the request of these municipalities for a two-week moratorium beginning Feb. 20.
RIATF made it clear the two towns only suspended LSI arrivals. The repatriation of overseas Filipino workers is still ongoing.
Based on RIATF’s directive, LSIs who wish to return to their home provinces must secure a certificate of acceptance and coordination from the receiving local government unit, medical certificate from the municipal or city health office from their point of origin, and barangay certification that the person has no COVID-19 symptoms, and travel authority from the point of origin./PN
