Año reminds airlines not to sell tickets if flights aren’t sure

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday reminded airlines not to sell flight tickets to passengers if they are not yet sure that they would be allowed to land in receiving local government units.

Interviewed on GMA Network's Unang Hirit, Año said flights must be well-coordinated with local government units to avoid cancellations.

"'Yung mga airlines na nagbebenta ng ticket, pinapaalalahanan natin na hangga't hindi naman sigurado ang mga flights ninyo ay huwag kayong magbenta ng ticket kung hindi naman sigurado kung may flight," Año said.

"Kasi ito nga 'yung pinagmumulan ng LSI, may dala dala silang ticket, pagdating doon ay bigla naman cancelled 'yung flight," he added.

This came amid reports in the previous days about the situation of locally stranded individuals in the metro.

He noted that if there is a 24 to 48-hour cancellation of flights, passengers could be accommodated in the airport. There are also areas allocated for locally stranded individuals at Villamor Airbase Elementary School and at Fort Bonifacio.

If the cancellation is longer, passengers will be transported to their respective residences, Año said.

"Ihahatid pabalik kung saan siya nanggaling, ihahatid ng pulis 'yan kahit saang region pa 'yan para di ka magaantay sa wala. Kukunin na lang natin 'yung contact numbers," he said.

In an online forum, Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana said local government officials in nearby provinces have also provided transportation for LSIs in Metro Manila.

"As of now, we are still sending home via boat loads of LSIs to the provinces, for the land-based LSIs going to Bicol, Ilocos, going to Pampanga, we are happy that the governors and mayors are willing to come here to Manila to send transportation to bring their residents back to their provinces," Lorenzana said.

Año also reminded the public that there is still a moratorium on the travels going to Regions VI, VIII, CARAGA and Cebu province to prevent the spread of COVID-19. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News