Temporary suspension of trips for LSIs meant to address concerns of LGUs —Palace

Malacañang said Friday the government suspended the trips for locally stranded individuals (LSIs) to address concerns of local officials about the spread of COVID-19 in the provinces.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement after Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez claimed that the continued influx of LSIs caused the spread of the disease in erstwhile COVID-free areas.

Ormoc, Cebu City, Cebu province, Leyte, Southern Leyte and Samar have been declared by the Department of Health as emerging COVID-19 hotspots.

“Napakinggan po natin ang reklamo ng mga mayor kagaya ni [Mayor Richard Gomez] at kaya nga po nagkaroon po tayo ngayon ng temporary suspension ng pagpapauwi ng mga LSIs hanggang hindi po sila nabibigyan ng PCR test,” Roque said in a televised briefing.

“Babalangkasin po kung paano talaga mabibigyan ng PCR test ang mga locally stranded individuals. Bagama’t gaya ng sinabi ko po kahapon, mayroon na po tayong one million available PCR testing kits.”

Roque also urged the receiving local governments units to administer RT-PCR tests, which detect the virus that causes COVID-19, in their areas and subject the returnees to quarantine.

Two passenger ships bound for Bacolod, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro were scheduled to leave Manila on Friday with LSIs on board, he said.

“We further wish to state that this will be the last batch of LSIs that will be allowed to return to their respective hometowns until we subject them to RT-PCR tests,” Roque said.  —LDF, GMA News