National Task Force (NTF) Against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. wants a nationwide "Hatid Probinsya" operation for locally stranded individuals (LSIs) on July 25 to 26 to decongest temporary holding facilities in Metro Manila.
"Noong last nagkaroon ng 'Hatid Probinsya' was (July) 4 and 5. Ngayon tinitignan po na magkaroon ng nationwide 'Hatid Probinsya' this 25 and 26 (The last time we had a 'Hatid Probinsya' trip was on July 4 and 5. Now, we are looking at making a nationwide 'Hatid Probinsya' operation on the 25th and 26th)," he said.
Galvez said the trips will include areas where a moratorium on the entry of LSIs was imposed such as in Western Visayas (Region 6), Eastern Visayas (Region 8), Caraga (Region 13), Cebu Island and Mactan.
The chief implementer said they have been in talks with mayors and governors in the said areas to start accepting LSIs again with the previous batch completing the mandatory quarantine period.
"More than 15 days 'yung allowable, pwede na siguro na 'yung nagkaroon ng moratorium ay natapos na ang quarantine ng kanilang LSI. Pwede na magpatuloy (The allowable is 15 days so we can probably have trips to areas under moratorium since their LSIs have already completed quarantine. We can resume ," Galvez said.
The "Hatid Probinsya" program was blamed for the spike of COVID-19 cases in some provinces last month.
As such, a moratorium was imposed by the national government on June 28 to control the sudden increase in COVID-19 cases.
However, Galvez said that the trips would have to be resumed since President Duterte himself wants to alleviate the suffering of thousands of stranded individuals in Metro Manila.
Some LSIs are forced to stay outside piers and airports while waiting to be transported back to their home provinces.
One LSI in Pasay City died waiting for a bus ride under a footbridge.
"Talagang nabagabag ang kalooban ng ating mahal na Presidente kaya ang ano niya sa mga LGUs ay dapat tanggapin ang mga LSI (The President got really worried so he is urging local government units to accept the LSIs)," Galvez said.
New protocols
Meanwhile, Galvez said he will meet with leaders and members of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines to explain to them the new protocols in receiving LSIs.
The new protocols, which are yet to be made public, were crafted to address possible new infections arising during the transfer.
Galvez admitted there were instances where an LSI who tested negative for COVID-19 using anti-body rapid test kits tested positive undergoing the same procedure in their province.
As such, he urged LGUs to use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kits in testing arriving LSIs before they are accepted in isolation facilities.
But recognizing the lack of PCR test kits in some areas, Galvez said rapid anti-body test kits will still be allowed in processing LSIs.
"Ang pinakamataas na antas na ginagamit natin 'yung PCR as a primary tool para malaman natin kung mayroon siyang COVID o wala. Ginagamit ang anti-body considering 'yung iba kulang ang PCR test so 'yun muna (The highest level that we are using is the PCR as a primary tool to determine if one is infected with COVID-19 or not. We use the anti-body test considering the shortage of PCR test in some areas)," Galvez said.