FINALLY HOME. Returning locally stranded individuals wash their hands as they arrive Saturday night (Aug. 1, 2020) in one of the two decontamination areas at the North Cotabato provincial capitol grounds in Amas, Kidapawan City. After complying with health protocols, they will be sent to their respective localities for more health preventive measures before they are reunited with their families. (Photo courtesy of North Cotabato PIO)
COTABATO CITY – As locally stranded individuals (LSIs) continue to arrive, the North Cotabato Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (PIATF) on coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has put up two decontamination areas within the provincial capitol grounds in Kidapawan City.
Board Member Philbert Malaluan, PIATF incident command post head, said the additional decontamination areas were set up Saturday in front of the provincial grandstand and sports oval facility.
Malaluan, a medical doctor by profession, said that based on the latest count, the province’s Task Force Sagip was able to facilitate the return of a total of 13,537 LSIs during the past three months or until July 30.
“More are coming, we are ready to welcome them,” said North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco said in a statement after she directed Saturday the establishment of the new decontamination areas.
Malaluan said at least seven sweeper flights were sponsored by the provincial government for LSIs and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) from Manila and Luzon.
Additional flights are also scheduled for stranded North Cotabateños in Cebu and Iloilo City.
Catamco has directed all village officials to come up with quarantine areas in their respective areas although there are no positive cases in their communities.
“Village government must have facilities for our returning ‘kababayans’ (province-mates), we should not deny them the opportunity to be with their loved ones after complying with all health protocols,” Catamco said.
The governor said the decontamination section in the provincial capitol grounds is operational round-the-clock. (PNA)
