LSIs at Army gym in favor of PCR testing prior to return to provinces

Some locally stranded individuals (LSIs) who failed to get a plane ride anew for the provinces on Thursday said they are in favor of the government’s new requirement for them to undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based testing.

According to Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras,” some LSIs who had been staying at the Philippine Army Gym were brought to the airport as early as dawn, but ended up returning to the temporary shelter after encountering issues with their flights.

Jenelyn Sumatra only learned at the airport that her ticket to Cotabato was already inactive.

“Ilang araw na ko dito. Hirap na hirap ‘pag malayo ka sa pamilya. E ‘di ko alam kung anong gagawin ko sa ticket ko. Sayang naman ‘yung binayad ko, P4,000 plus ‘yun… ‘di ko naman sinakyan. Wala tayong magawa. Nagamit na raw,” she said.

Cebu Pacific and the Army are now working to arrange her flight.

The new setback means having to wait to undergo PCR testing prior to receiving clearance to return to her province.

Previously, only a negative test result for the coronavirus disease via a rapid test was needed to be given clearance.

“Okay na ‘yun sa akin. At least safe kami tapos safe rin ‘yung pamilya ko. Mas mahirap magkaganitong virus na sakit. Kung mamatay man ako, basta ako lang, ‘di na madamay ‘yung pamilya ko,” Sumatra said.

Rocylen Ola and two other companions were likewise offloaded from their flight to Bacolod because their final destination was Dumaguete.

Only Bacolod residents were allowed to board the plane.

They have been waiting three months now to return home, but Ola said they are willing to wait for the PCR test.

“Okay lang po, at least safe po kami,” she said.

Joy Angcon’s flight to Iloilo was likewise canceled on Thursday morning, meaning she will have to undergo PCR testing before being allowed to return home.

“At least sigurado kami na safe kami na makakauwi. At saka kung may swab test, sana wala nang quarantine pagdating doon sa amin,” she said.

The Army said it has not yet received details on the moratorium on the travel of LSIs but said it is prepared to continue accommodating some 400 people currently at the gym.

The government earlier said the guidelines for PCR-based testing for LSIs would be firmed up in the following days. 

The Department of Health previously explained that PCR tests are the “gold standard” in COVID-19 testing, unlike rapid tests which are prone to false negatives or false positives. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News