CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda personally met on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, another batch of 41 returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) who were assisted through the help of “Balik Pinas, Balik Pampanga Program.”
The ROFs arrived safely here after a three-day quarantine at New Clark City and tested negative for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).
The governor welcomed the ROFs and turned over them back to their families during the send-off ceremony at the Benigno Aquino Hall. He was assisted by Angelina Blanco, chief implementer of the program, Luningning Vergara, Public Employment Service Office (PESO) head, and Jay Luna, tourism officer.
In his statement, Pineda said the program is his “humble” offering to Kapampangan repatriates who were stranded overseas because of the pandemic.
“Maliit lang pong bagay itong programa kumpara sa sakripisyong ginawa ng ating mga kababayan sa ibang bansa. Masaya po ako na makita natin silang safe na nakauwi sa probinsya at makapiling ang kanilang pamilya pagkatapos ng mahabang panahon,” he shared.
He assured the repatriates that the provincial government is ready to assist them in case something will happen to them during their remaining 11 days of home quarantine.
“In case may mangyari sa inyo or sa mga kapamilya ninyo, please coordinate with your respective barangay health workers. Hindi po napuputol dito ang commitment namin sa inyo. Hanggang nasa Pampanga kayo kami pong bahala sa inyo,” he added.
According to Blanco, at least 161 Kapampangan ROFs have benefited from the program.
Out of these figures, 132 were sent home while the remaining 29 are still under quarantine at NCC.
Meanwhile, the repatriates were overjoyed as they thanked the provincial government for the service extended to them.
“Gov siguro kulang po ang thank you para pasalamatan po namin kayo sa tulong na ibinigay niyo sa amin. Sabi nga ng mga kasama namin sa ibang bansa, sana-all may ganyang programa tulad ng pagkalinga pamahalaan ng Pampanga sa mga ROFs,” said Virgillo Navarro, a ROF from New Zealand. (PR)