By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
As part of its initiatives to help locally stranded individuals (LSIs) affected by the community quarantine, the Office of Vice President Leni Robredo sent off on Friday the LSIs it assisted earlier.
(OVP / MANILA BULLETIN)
The OVP said a total of five buses for LSIs bound for different provinces in the Bicol Region were expected to depart the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran at 5 p.m. on Friday. Robredo’s office has been assisting and sending LSIs to their respective homes in collaboration with various provincial and local governments.
In this initiative, the OVP assured that protocols, such as the requirement of documents like medical certificate and authorization from the local government of their home areas, are strictly followed.
“We also implement disinfection procedures and temperature checks for every passenger before they get on the buses,” the OVP said. “We can also assure that they are given something to eat,” it added.
For the OVP, following protocols is “important to the initiative of our collaboration with LGUs because we want to ensure that the return of our countrymen is in accordance with the policies of their local governments.”
The OVP has distributed a total of 750 packed meals to LSIs located at NAIA Terminal 3, Villamor Air Base as well as those who are staying at the Baclaran Church.
Along with various partners from the private sector, Robredo’s office has been assisting LSIs in Metro Manila since March. By providing them transportation, the OVP has been helping LSIs so they can go back to their respective homes as the country grapples with the COVID-19 crisis.
Since the implementation of community quarantines, many locally displaced individuals have been reaching out to the OVP so they can go back to their respective provinces. Robredo has urged the government to put in place a more organized system to assist LSIs and ultimately send them to their home provinces.