DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the reception of locally stranded individuals (LSI) by Region 8 will be temporarily suspended to give more time for LGUs to increase their isolation facilities.
“Sa ngayon puno ang kanilang isolation facility, so kung darating na naman ‘yong maraming LSI, and problema ay paano nila mai-quarantine ‘yong mga LSI na ito (Their isolation facilities are currently full and the problem is how the arriving LSIs will be quarantined),” Año explained.
Año added that some LGUs do not want home quarantine for the LSIs as they are not sure if protocols would be violated. The temporary suspension will last for 14 days.
“Ang gagawin natin for 14 days, lahat ng pupunta sa Region 8 ay iipunin na lang natin, pagkatapos ay ihahatid nalang natin ng barko (Within 14 days, we will gather everyone heading for Region 8 then we will send them aboard a ship),” he said.
The JTF COVID Shield will also temporarily stop processing travel authorities for those travelling to Region 8.
Meanwhile, Secretary Vince Dizon said other LSIs who will return home will soon undergo mandatory RT-PCR testing. “Magkakaroon na po tayo ng bagong protocol dahil dumating na ang ating mga test kit (We will have new protocols since our new test kits have arrived).” – Report from Patrick de Jesus
