A TOTAL of 1,106 locally stranded individuals (LSI) in Cebu City have returned home in the past 11 days, according to Provincial Disaster Risk and Management Office (PDRRMO) spokesperson Rhee Telen said.
Telen said Friday, Aug. 21, that they sent the LSIs home to Talisay City, Mandaue City, Minglanilla, Camotes Islands and Bantayan Island.
Some of the LSIs traveled to Dumaguete City and Tagbilaran City, Cagayan de Oro City, Surigao City, Nasipit town in Agusan del Norte, Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte and Masbate province.
The PDRRMO started processing the travel requirements for LSIs on Aug. 1, when Cebu City shifted to the more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ). The LSIs were sent home beginning Aug. 10.
Telen said 100 to 120 LSIs have sought assistance at Pier 1, where his team is stationed, since Aug. 1.
LSIs need to present a travel authority, medical certificate and letter of acceptance from their local government unit to show that they will be allowed entry.
Telen said they have set up a play area at Pier 1 to keep young travelers from getting bored. The children also get free food.
Passenger traffic
In the last 21 days, a total of 11,910 LSIs, returning overseas Filipino workers, and authorized persons outside residence (Apor) have passed through the Cebu Port based on Cebu Port Authority (CPA) records.
Of the total, 4,099 were inbound passengers while 7,811 were outbound passengers.
As thousands more are expected to travel now that restrictions have been eased a bit, CPA officials urged all outbound passengers to proceed to their designated Coast Guard Stations.
This is for the review and validation of their travel documents as required under National Task Force Order No. 2020-02 before they proceed to their assigned port terminals.
In a statement, CPA said passengers bound for Tagbilaran City, Tubigon, Cagayan de Oro, Larena, Siquijor, and Plaridel via Lite Shipping Corporation; Surigao, Masbate, Calbayog, Iloilo, Ozamis, Nasipit, Palompon, Surigao and Maasin via Cokaliong Shipping Lines; and passengers bound forTalibon, Bohol via VG Roro are to proceed to the Coast Guard Station at Pier 1, located outside the Port Main Gate.
Passengers bound for Tubigon, Bohol via Fast Cat and those bound for Hilongos, Leyte via Gloria V should proceed to the Coast Guard Station in front of Port Terminal 2 at Pier 3.
All passengers bound for Manila, Dipolog, Surigao, Ormoc, Hilongos, Iloilo and Ozamis via 2GO, TransAsia Shipping Lines, Medallion Transport Inc. and Roble Shipping Lines may proceed to the Coast Guard Station in front of Pier 4.
Jobseekers
Meanwhile, Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera said jobseekers are not yet allowed to enter Cebu City.
Garganera, deputy chief implementer of Cebu City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), said only LSIs and Apor may enter the city.
“We’re not allowing everybody to come here just to look for work. That’s different na,” said Garganera.
“You might be an engineer, you might be a professional but if you come here just because you want to work, no, dili. You must have an existing job here so that we will consider you as an Apor,” he added.
He advised those who are planning to look for work in Cebu City to wait until the community quarantine is lifted.
An Apor from outside the city, however, will have to undergo a 14-day home quarantine, Garganera said.
Upon their arrival at the port, they will be brought to the staging area where they will be asked to sign an undertaking that they will undergo home quarantine.
Personnel from the City Health Department Philippine National Police and the host barangay will monitor the Apor and LSI during quarantine.
An Apor is required to present an identification card, certificate of employment, medical certificate and a travel or mission order. / ANV/ WBS/ JJL