HATID TULONG. Finally, these locally stranded individuals (LSIs) from Bicol Province will be reunited with their families through the government's "Hatid Tulong" Program as they board a Philippine National Railways (PNR) train at Tutuban station in Manila on Saturday (June 20, 2020). Over 53,000 LSIs have already benefited under the “Hatid Tulong” program which provides either land, air or sea transport to those stranded in various areas due to lockdown measures amid the Covid-19 pandemic. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)
MANILA – Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Monday urged for a “thorough review” of the implementation of Hatid Tulong initiatives amid calls from various sectors following an increasing number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the provinces reportedly attributed to the program.
“I am urging the Executive branch to conduct a thorough review of the implementation of Hatid Tulong initiatives aimed at helping stranded Filipinos who wish to return to their provinces,” Go said in a statement.
Since Hatid Tulong is a directive from President Rodrigo Duterte, Go said it is important to make sure that proper health and safety protocols are in place in order to avoid the spread of Covid-19.
“Proper coordination must also be conducted to make sure that receiving local government units (LGUs) are willing and ready to accept their constituents,” he added.
To further stem the spread of the dreaded disease, the chair of the Senate Committee on Health also urged the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) to look into unauthorized travels and unsanctioned initiatives reportedly conducted by various LGUs and groups that do not comply with health protocols.
"Kahit niluwagan na ang community quarantine measures sa iilang lugar, higpitan pa rin po natin ang mga patakaran na kaugnay ng pagbyahe patungo sa mga probinsya para maiwasan ang lalong pagkalat ng sakit (Even if quarantine measures in several areas have been relaxed, policies on travel to provinces should continuously be strictly enforced to prevent the spread of the disease),” he said.
Likewise, Go said he also welcomes calls to review the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program, or any government program for that matter, since the “collective goal” of government and stakeholders “is to make the whole government more responsive to the rapidly changing concerns brought by the global health crisis”.
Go, proponent of the BP2 program, however, stressed that Balik Probinsya should not be confused with Hatid Tulong initiatives.
He reiterated that the BP2 Program, which was institutionalized by Duterte through Executive Order No. 114, is a long-term, whole-of-nation approach aimed at decongesting Metro Manila and spurring rural development at the same time.
“Ang BP2 Program ay para sa mga taga Metro Manila na gustong mag-relocate sa kanilang probinsya pagkatapos ng krisis (The BP2 is for families residing in Metro Manila who wish to relocate in the provinces after the crisis),” Go said.
On the other hand, Go pointed out that Hatid Tulong initiatives are meant to help locally stranded individuals (LSIs), repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and other affected Filipinos return to their home provinces.
But despite the differences, Go urged implementing agencies of various Hatid Tulong programs to enforce the “single dispatch” system adopted by BP2 implementers in sending beneficiaries to the provinces to better control and prevent exposure from Covid-19.
He also urged executive agencies mandated to implement the BP2 program to conduct a thorough review, taking into consideration the health and safety measures that should be implemented.
He said the temporary suspension of the program will also give more time for receiving LGUs to prepare their communities for the return of BP2 beneficiaries.
“We have enough time to polish, study and review the necessary guidelines and seek wisdom from other LGUs prior to implementing the BP2 program,” Go said. (PNA)
