MORE than 1,000 locally stranded individuals out of the estimated 9,000 who have camped out at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex were set to leave Monday for the provinces while 700 more are set to leave Monday for the Zamboanga region.
It was reported that eight to nine persons were barred from joining the Hatid Tulong program after testing positive for the deadly coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Hatid Tulong Lead Convenor and Presidential Management Staff Assistant Secretary Joseph Encabo, during the Laging Handa public briefing, said 3,600 LSIs had been sent to the Caraga region, Region 6 (Western Visayas), Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), Region 11 (Davao), and Region 12 (Soccsksargen) over the weekend.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, in a virtual press briefing, said the Department of Health was saddened by arrival of thousands of LSIs at the RMSC, admitting minimum health standards had been neglected.
“We have seen the pictures. We are saddened that this thing happened despite all of our reminders. We know we have existing protocols against mass gatherings, yet these things still happen,” said Vergeire, adding the DOH understands the predicament faced by the government’s “Hatid Tulong Program.”
“We have relayed our concerns to specific agencies. We also have to understand that these LSIs are being organized so that they can be brought home to their respective provinces,” said Vergeire.
Encabo said many of the 9,000 registered LSIs did not arrive for the July 25 to 26 send-off at the RMSC but some 6,000 people, most of them “walk-ins,” started arriving over the weekend for the dispatch to the provinces.
He said the persons who were supposed to be sent off were subjected to COVID rapid tests and those who tested positive were immediately isolated and underwent confirmatory tests. Those who would test positive in the confirmatory swab tests will be brought to a quarantine facility while those tested negative will be allowed to proceed with the trip.
Encabo admitted that physical distancing had not been observed due to the inclement weather. Some of the LSIs were later transferred to another stadium where physical distancing was able to be implemented.
Enacbo said a total of 126,000 LSIs had been sent home to the provinces through the Hatid Tulong program and soon the government would be implementing “pocket” send off or send off by regions or provinces depending on arrangements with local governments unit concerned, the availability of quarantine facilities and transportation. — With Gerard Naval
