THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) has done sending home all 405 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) to their respective provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
This, as the last batch, composed of 96 LSIs, was sent home Monday, August 3, aboard a commercial ferry via the port of Polloc in Parang, Maguindanao.
Minister of the Interior and Local Government Naguib Sinarimbo said of the 96 LSIs, 45 tested negative for coronavirus, while the remaining 51, who tested positive have already recovered.
Sinarimbo said that all of them have completed the 14-day quarantine in the isolation facilities in Barmm.
The 405 LSIs from Manila were originally bound for the BaSulTa island provinces but were rerouted to Cagayan de Oro City on July 7.
Barmm hired 17 buses to take them to Zamboanga City, which should have been the nearest port of entry to the island provinces. However, due to circumstances beyond the control of Barmm, the buses had to be rerouted to Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.
Sinarimbo, during Monday's send-off ceremony, assured the LSIs of their safe return to their respective provinces.
"Part of our preparation for your return is our time to time coordination with the local government units," Sinarimbo said.
"When you arrive in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, you will be welcomed by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer and Local Government officials of each provinces," he added.
Sinarimbo also emphasized that the Barmm has provided the basic needs of the LSIs that are essential upon arriving in their respective provinces.
Each LSI received P5,000 cash assistance, 25 kilograms of rice, groceries, medicines, and hygiene kits from the Barmm's Ministry of Social Services and Development and Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence. (SunStar Zamboanga)