LSIs, RETURNING OFWs TOO

Eased restrictions 'somehow' resulted in increased COVID-19 cases, Año says

The recent increases in COVID-19 cases in the country may be linked to the government's decision to ease quarantine restrictions for the sake of economy, according to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday.

“Somehow, ito ang resulta ng pag-open up natin, pag-downgrade ng classification, pagbubukas ng ibang business sectors na kailangan naman,” he said in an interview on CNN-Philippines.

Año said whether or not the total number of COVID-19 cases would increase dramatically boils down to the compliance of the public to the safety and health protocols being implemented amid the pandemic.

“In the coming days, because of our intention to open up the economy, it will really boil down to the individual persons on how they will adhere, comply, obey, with the minimum health standards,” he said.

During lockdowns, Año — a member of the government task force addressing the COVID-19 problem — highlighted that the government was able to improve the testing capacity and health care facilities.

“We can say na we are ready, but the people must cooperate,” he said.

As of Sunday, the total number of cases in the Philippines was at 44,254 with 11,942 recoveries and 1,297 fatalities, according to the DOH.

The new reported cases of 2,434 infections were composed of 1,147 fresh cases  and 1,287 late reported cases.

LSIs, returning OFWs

Año also said locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) contributed to the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

In the same interview, Año pointed out that LSIs and returning OFWs are unique from other countries that are also experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These OFWs and LSIs ay isa mga mga pinagmumulan ng transmission. So, sabihin natin na iba talaga, very peculiar ang Pilipinas,” he said. 

In Malacañang, an official partly blamed the increase in COVID-19 cases in the provinces on “unsupervised and unmonitored” transport of LSIs.

Presidential Management Staff Assistant Secretary and Hatid Tulong program head Joseph Encabo said he informed Año and some Philippine National Police officials of their “frustration” over the “colorum” transportation activities involving LSIs.

He disclosed that these LSIs bypassed necessary processes including the COVID-19 rapid test.

“May mga organisasyon o grupo o indibidwal na talagang kusang pumupuslit ng mga LSIs papasok,” Encabo said in a televised briefing.

“Halimbawa po, meron po kaming nakuhang report na may dalawang vans na papasok sa Samar na mga LSIs only to find out ay nagkaroon nga sila ng rapid test pero medyo matagal tagal na at paso na rin 'yung kanilang travel authority.”

Encabo urged the PNP to strengthen its monitoring on the movement of LSIs.

“Dapat matigil po ‘yan kasi naniniwala po ako na ang mga colorum activities na ‘yan ang isa sa mga main na rason o dahilan kung bakit tumataas po ang COVID cases sa isang lugar,” he said.

“Kaya ‘ yung mga LGUs [local government units] ay nagkakaroon ng misconception na kapag may mga transport ng LSIs, y’ung COVID cases agad ang nakikita nila na posibleng mag-increase.”

As of July 2, the program had provided assistance to 62,762 individuals, which included overseas Filipino workers and other stranded individuals according to government data.

Encabo said some 13,000 LSIs have yet to return to the provinces as the government suspended the travel of LSIs to Western Visayas, Cebu Island including Mactan, Eastern Visayas, and the Caraga region.— Joviland Rita and Virgil Lopez/KBK/RSJ, GMA News