Locally stranded individuals camp out at Manila North Port

A fresh batch of locally stranded individuals have sought shelter at a tent at the Manila North Port, hoping to get on boat trips to their home provinces. 

Some of them have been stranded in Metro Manila for four months, ever since the government imposed quarantine measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to a report by Darlene Cay on GMA News' Unang Balita on Tuesday.

One such person is Jose Laordin of Cebu. He traveled to Bulacan to attend to something but got stranded when President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Luzon to be placed under enhanced community quarantine in mid-March.

Laordin has been staying outside Manila North Port for two weeks already. He said he wants to go home to his two children in Cebu but he has only P200 left. Laordin said he doesn't know how he will be able to buy a ticket for the trip back to Cebu.

Another LSI, Rebecca Memoracion, was also caught stranded in Metro Manila when the lockdown was imposed in March. 

She longs to go home to Bacolod after her mother got sick then eventually died.

Memoracion said she will ask for help so she can go back to her hometown.

The number of LSIs at the tent outside Manila North Port has grown overnight, and social distancing could no longer be observed on Tuesday.

The Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Ports Authority give the LSis food packs. The LSIs are also given access to restrooms.

Passenger ship company 2Go said boat trips on Tuesday will head to Cagayan de Oro. 

There is no word yet on when LSIs may be accommodated on boat trips to Bacolod and Iloilo, due to local government restrictions.

—KG, GMA News