ILOILO – From 750, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. further trimmed down to 550 the number of Ilonggo locally stranded individuals (LSIs) returning to the province per week.
In Executive Order (EO) No. 128-H issued yesterday, Defensor also said this 550 included repatriated overseas Filipinos (ROFs).
The EO took effect immediately.
“Only a maximum of 300 passengers shall be allowed in inbound flights per week for air travel, and a maximum of 250 passengers in inbound voyages per week for sea travel,” read part of Defensor’s order.
The 250 passengers in inbound voyages also have a cap – 200 passengers per week from Luzon and 50 passengers per week from Mindanao.
As for airlines, “only a maximum of 300 passengers shall be allowed in inbound flights per week, and shall be carried at a maximum of 100 passengers per flight.”
Defensor gave to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP-Iloilo) the discretion to prorate the 300 passengers among three airlines – Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air and AirAsia.
In addition to these caps, returning LSIs and ROFs from coronavirus disease-high risk areas must meet the following requirements:
* undergo Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction Test (RT-PCR Test) before travel
* undergo 14-day quarantine upon arrival — at the quarantine facility of their local government units or in commercial/tourism accommodation establishments but at their own expense
* ROFs (except overseas Filipino workers travelling under the auspices of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) and LSIs shall secure a medical certificate from the originating/sending local government unit, and a travel authority from the Chief of Police or higher command, provided that provincial governors, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, may also issue a travel authority to their returning constituents (the travel authority shall not be valid for any return trip)
* the return of ROFs and LSIs shall be subject to coordination with and acceptance of either the province or the municipality of destination
The return of LSIs and ROFs must be regulated, stressed Defensor, so as not to overwhelm local government units’ quarantine facilities and hospitals.
“Wala sang local government unit nga makasarang mag-quarantine sang tanan nga naga-abot adlaw-adlaw,” he said./PN
