By Mike Crismundo
BISLIG CITY – A total of 128 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and 17 returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) were able to return home here in this southernmost tip city of Surigao del Sur province through the government’s “Balik-Probinsya” program.
(CIO BISLIG / MANILA BULLETIN)
These LSIs and ROFs were immediately given strict screening health protocols by the local government unit of Bislig and other concerned agencies when they arrived on Tuesday.
They were fetched by the vehicles sent by the city government of Bislig at the province's pick-up points, in close coordination with the Provincial Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Surigao del Sur, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)-Caraga Region 13.
The ROFs from Manila had undergone and completed the health screening protocols, such as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test and mandatory 14-day facility-based quarantine, which all yielded negative before they were transported.
Upon arrival in Bislig City on Tuesday, June 2, they underwent health risk assessment, thermal scanning, and checking of documents conducted by the health professionals from the City Health Office-Bislig.
They were ferried to their respective homes and were advised to strictly observe another 14-day home quarantine period as added precautionary health measure.
On the other hand, the LSIs were also subjected to health risk assessment upon arrival, mandatory home quarantine required for persons with travel history from low-risk areas, and facility-based quarantine for the persons with travel history from high-risk areas with COVID-19 positive cases with local transmission.
The LSIs and OFWs who are still on home and facility-based quarantine are closely being monitored by the health workers and barangay officials.
The “Balik-Probinsiya” program is still accepting applications subject to the availability of the city's quarantine facilities, it was gathered.