Return of locally stranded individuals on hold in several areas in the country — Palace

Malacañang on Monday clarified there is no nationwide moratorium on the transport of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases only suspended the travel of LSIs to Western Visayas, Cebu Island including Mactan, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga region.

“Hindi po nationwide. Ito na po ang mga lugar na mayroong moratorium lamang,” Roque said in a televised briefing after some local officials claimed that the continued influx of LSIs caused the spread of the disease in the provinces.

For now, Roque said LSIs only need to secure health certificates and undergo quarantine upon their arrival in their respective hometowns.

He also said the IATF will deliberate on Thursday the possible new protocols on the management of LSIs, including subjecting the returnees to RT-PCR tests, which detect the virus that causes COVID-19. 

Meanwhile, Joint Task Force COVID Shield Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar said the suspension on travels of LSIs to Western Visayas will last two weeks.

“The issuance of the travel authority for all travels of LSIs to Western Visayas is suspended for two weeks as per instruction from the NTF COVID-19. We will wait for further notice as to when the repatriation of LSIs to this region would resume,” Eleazar said in a statement.

Eleazar appealed for understanding from the LSIs, saying there are valid reasons why the suspension of travel had to be implemented.

Meanwhile, he said the issuance of travel authority for LSIs going to other regions is still being approved provided that the LSIs would submit a medical clearance certificate. — RSJ, GMA News