BAYANIHAN. Food packs are delivered by the JCI Kagayhaan Gold for the locally-stranded individuals from the Zamboanga Peninsula and Basilan province. The ship carrying the LSIs was rerouted to Cagayan de Oro City following the national Inter-Agency Task Force approval of the request of Basilan Gov. Hataman Jim Samillan to temporarily suspend the repatriation of returning residents for at least 15 days. (Photo courtesy of Keny L Waban)
ILIGAN CITY--A vessel carrying at least 414 Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) from Manila that was supposed to dock in Zamboanga City was diverted instead to the port of Cagayan de Oro City on Tuesday.
Most of the passengers come from Basilan province, who had to be diverted following the approval of the national Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) of the request of Basilan Gov. Hataman Jim Samillan to temporarily suspend the repatriation of LSIs to the province for at least 15 days.
The provincial governments of Lanao del Sur, Bangsamoro Region, and Cagayan de Oro City agreed to give temporary relief to the LSIs, who are now temporarily staying at the University of Science and Technology (USTP) CDO Campus.
Lanao del Sur provincial information officer Jennie Tamano said on Wednesday that Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. has directed the personnel of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to immediately respond to the needs of LSIs from Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
"From the port area, the LSIs were brought to the USTP where they spent the night. The PDRRMO staff checked on their condition and distributed dinner and water to them. The LSIs were also given breakfast this (Wednesday) morning by the provincial government of Lanao del Sur," Tamano said.
Tamano said the LSIs will be taken to Zamboanga City on July 9 by the 17 buses hired by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao government.
“As Muslims and public servants, it is our duty to ensure that we provide assistance to our fellowmen at any time and wherever they may be, should they need it. The 2017 Marawi siege experience taught us the importance of immediately responding to the needs of our people because we know how it feels to be hopeless and helpless in times of crisis,” Adiong said.
Bayanihan spirit
Meanwhile, private individuals and organizations responded by giving additional food packs to the LSIs.
JCI Kagayhaan Gold delivered additional food supplies with the help of Basilan representative Mujiv Hataman.
Nadzfar Hayudini Totong, a scholar student of Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan, responded to call for help by personally buying and distributing food packs on the first night the LSIs stayed inside USTP. He was originally a resident of Tipo-Tipo, Basilan.
The immediate response of individuals and local organizations was facilitated by the OurMindaNow communication network that monitors cases of Covid-19 and the movements of incoming LSIs and repatriated overseas Filipinos in Mindanao. (PNA)
