48 COVID-positive LSIs in Rizal Sports Complex still waiting for swab test results —Encabo

The 48 locally-stranded individuals (LSIs) at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex who tested positive for COVID-19 are still awaiting for the results of their swab test almost a week after they took it, Assistant Secretary Joseph Encabo of the Presidential Management Staff said Monday.

Encabo, convenor of the Hatid Tulong Program, made the remark during the hybrid meeting of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on the actions taken by the government to address the plight of LSIs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the meeting, Encabo was asked for updates on the situation of the 48 LSIs who stayed at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex who tested positive for COVID-19.

Encabo, in response, said the LSIs being referred to "are still in the quarantine facility awaiting the results of their swab test."

"Per guidance of the DOH (Department of Health), since they were tested positive on rapid test, they should be subjected to confirmatory test which is the swab test, and we continuously monitor them, the DOH together with other personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard are very keen on the observance of the medical protocol or even sanitation in the area," he said.

"So talagang gwardiyado yung 48 na yun and once we receive the results, we will have the DOH assess them, then as to whatever the decision of the DOH, we will abide," he added.

House panel chair Rep. Jonathan Sy-Alvarado then asked Encabo when the COVID-positive LSIs took the swab test, to which he replied: "I think almost a week na."

Sy-Alvarado raised concern that the release swab test result for the LSIs is taking too long. He pointed out that when House members and personnel took a swab test as part of the requirements for physical attendance to President Rodrigo Duterte's fifth State of the Nation Address, the results were released only a day later.

Encabo said they would follow up with the Philippine Red Cross on the results of the swab tests.

"We are currently asking for a response from the Red Cross. On this day, we'll try to seek their comments on that on why there's such a delay sa results na yun," he said.

"But we'd like to reiterate our intent to them to give priority sa mga LSIs na ito dahil kawawa din because the longer they stay in the quarantine facility, the more it becomes traumatic on their part, psychologically disturbed sila kapag ganun. We will do our best to seek the results of these swab tests," Encabo added.

Encabo reiterated their commitment to bring LSIs back to their home provinces.

"Habang may LSI na lumalapit sa aming tanggapan regardless ng kanyang kategorya — estudyante, stranded worker or applying OFW — handang-handa kaming tulungan at maihatid sa kanilang probinsya," he said.

LSIs had earlier flocked to the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex to avail of the government’s Hatid Tulong Program to bring them home to the provinces.

The complex had reached full capacity due to the huge number of LSIs hoping to go back to their home provinces that some of them had to sleep on the streets outside the stadium.

Last Thursday, the last batch of LSIs left the complex, which was then closed for sanitation and disinfection. —KBK, GMA News