THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) asked local government units (LGUs) anew to accept locally stranded individuals (LSI), saying over 8,000 are set to be brought back to their respective provinces this weekend.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said Friday, July 24, that 8,408 LSIs, who are among those included in the second phase of the "Hatid Tulong Program," will board 120 buses; five sea vessels, two of which are from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and three from the Philippine Coast Guard; and Philippine National Railways trains starting Saturday, July 25.

Among these LSIs were those staying at the Philippine Army Gymnasium, Villamor Air Base Elementary School, Manila Science High School, and Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The second batch also includes LSIs endorsed by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, other government agencies, and local government units while waiting for their chance to go home.

"Gaya ng first batch ng Hatid Tulong noong unang linggo ng July, we will be ensuring that our LSIs will be comfortable and safe in the transportation modes that the government has prepared for them," Año said, adding that the returning LSIs will also be given food and non-food aid during their travel.

On July 5, in the first phase of the program, 5,570 LSIs bound to various provinces in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were brought home.

But DILG National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO) Director Dennis Villaseñor said LSIs bound to LGUs that still have an existing moratorium will not yet be allowed to travel.

He said they will instead be brought to a temporary housing facility in the City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

"Iginagalang po natin ang ating mga pamahalaang lokal kung saan babalik ang ating mga LSI. Kung sila po ay patungo sa mga LGU na may umiiral pang moratorium ay hindi muna natin sila mapapauwi at pansamantalang dadalhin sa isang maayos na housing facility sa Bulacan," said Villaseñor.

(We respect the moratorium set by the LGUs. If there's an existing moratorium in their LGUs, they will not be allowed to go home. Instead, they will be brought to a housing facility in Bulacan.)

"Tinitignan po natin kung puno na ba ang kanilang mga pasilidad, may available pa ba silang test kits na magiging basehan para aprubahan ang request for a moratorium," he added.

(We look into the capacity of their facilities and availability of test kits before we approve a request for a moratorium.)

Meantime, Año released an advisory dated July 21 reminding LGUs to support the program by accepting and accommodating the returning LSIs.

He said LGUs should coordinate with their respective regional task forces and their sub-task units prior to the sending or receiving of LSIs and that they must also allow the passage of LSIs arriving in their area provided that they possess a medical clearance certification and travel authority.

He said the LGUs may also impose their own preventive measures on LSIs, such as the conduct RT-PCR or real-time polymerase chain reaction test in accordance with local health protocols.

Año also directed the LGUs to prepare transportation, reception team, isolation and quarantine facilities, as well as to provide basic, medical, and sanitary needs of the LSIs while on quarantine, if needed.

"Ang katotohanan ay ang laban sa Covid-19 ay talagang mas maigting sa mga pamahalaang lokal at barangay, kaya naman hinihiling natin ang pakikiisa ng mga LGU sa Hatid Tulong para sa maayos at sistematikong pag-uwi ng mga LSI sa kani-kanilang probinsya," he said. (SunStar Philippines)