ON THE WAY HOME. Passengers wave aboard the BRP Davao del Sur, as it leaves the Manila South Harbor on their way to their hometowns in the Visayas on Monday (June 22, 2020). The passengers will disembark at the Port of Iloilo and only medical supplies will be transported to Cebu City which has been reverted to the enhanced community quarantine. (Photo courtesy of the Naval Public Affairs Office)
MANILA – The Philippine Navy (PN)'s strategic sealift vessel, BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602) on Monday departed from Pier 13, South Harbor, Manila transporting 405 passengers and medical supplies to Iloilo and Cebu, respectively.
In a statement, Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, PN public affairs office chief, said this was a reduction from the original 450 persons earlier scheduled to board the ship, as some who underwent medical screening tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) rapid testing while those bound for Cebu City did not push through due to travel restrictions imposed by the re-implementation of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the area.
BRP Davao Del Sur, the other ship component of Naval Task Force 82, arrived in Manila after a five-month deployment in the Middle East last June 12. The ship, along with BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16), proceeded there last January following tensions between the United States and Iran.
"In addition to these 402 LSIs (locally stranded individuals) are the remaining three repatriates from India and Sri Lanka. This makes a total of 405 passengers bound for Iloilo," Roxas said.
She added that the LSIs in transit will only be allowed to disembark at the Port of Iloilo as Cebu City bans entry of LSIs under its ECQ rules.
Only the 2,508 boxes of personal protection equipment (PPE) and medical supplies intended for the front-liners in the region will be unloaded for delivery to the Office of Civil Defense in Cebu.
BRP Davao Del Sur commanding officer, Capt. Homer Gonzalez, said that the 30-hour voyage will be safe and convenient travel for their passengers.
Roxas said the ship is expected to arrive at the Port San Pedro, Iloilo City on Tuesday afternoon. (PNA)
