A TOTAL of 36 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) are staying in the holding area at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) as of Tuesday morning, June 16, Emergency Operations Center head Dr. Lorraine Nery said.
An additional 34 LSIs are expected to arrive soon, Nery added.
The USTP serves as a temporary holding area for inbound LSIs who were waiting for transport assistance from their respective local government units.
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno thanked the Regional Interagency Task Force (RIATF) for accommodating the stranded individuals while waiting for their transfer.
From March 30 to June 15, the Emergency Operations Center has recorded a total of 1,380 returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and LSIs, 300 of whom are under a 14-day quarantine.
Of the 300 individuals, 186 of them are undergoing home quarantine, 113 are
in the eight city isolation units and one in a barangay isolation unit.
Meanwhile, Nery said they have already coordinated with Misamis Oriental Provincial Task Force for Covid-19 chairman Dr. Jerie Calingasan regarding the first positive case in Misamis Oriental.
The first Covid-19 cases involves a resident from Libertad who arrived in Laguindingan Airport last June 6.
Nery said they have offered transportation for the said individual going to Libertad and the city isolation unit in case the isolation unit in the province has not yet been prepared.
"The response of Dr. Jerie actually was very accommodating also, very positive. Nagpasalamat pud siya sa atong gi-extend nga help. Ato serbisyo lamang and both parties would just like to serve the people of Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental the best way that we can," Nery said.
Apart from Misamis Oriental, Nery said they have also already coordinated with the Provincial Health Offices in Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon.