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MANILA – Malacañang on Monday said the entry of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) has been suspended in at least five areas due to the limited number of quarantine facilities that can accommodate them.
In a virtual presser, Roque said Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved a moratorium on sending home LSIs in Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga Regions; Cebu Island; and Mactan.
“Itong mga rehiyon naman na ito kaya po nagkaroon ng moratorium kasi wala na po silang lugar para mag-quarantine (There is a moratorium in these regions because there are no more areas for them to undergo quarantine),” he said.
Meanwhile, Roque said LSIs are no longer required to undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing before they are allowed to travel back to their hometowns.
This is contrary to his statement last week that LSIs and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will soon be required to undergo PRC testing before they could return to their hometowns.
“Iyong nabalita po na isang bapor na papunta po ng Dumaguete at ng Zamboanga na naantala ang pag-alis dahil wala raw PCR results, maglalayag na po iyan. Hindi po ni ri-require ang PCR (The ship bound for Dumaguete and Zamboanga which was delayed because of the lack of PCR test results will now sail. PCR testing is not required),” he said.
Roque said the protocol only requires LSIs to present medical certificates and will only undergo PCR testing once they have reached their destination.
In case the receiving local government unit (LGU) cannot conduct PCR testing, the LSI will be placed under a 14-day quarantine, he added.
Over 34,000 LSIs have been sent home so far to their respective hometowns through the Hatid-Tulong program.
LSIs were temporarily transferred to Villamor Air Base Elementary School and the Philippine State College of Aeronautics while waiting for a bus or plane ride home.
Meanwhile, the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) program was temporarily suspended to pave way for the government to assist LSIs in Metro Manila.
Earlier, the Palace urged LSIs seeking government assistance to contact the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Crisis Intervention Unit at 8734-8635. (PNA)
