96 more LSIs return home to Sulu, Tawi-Tawi —BARMM

Ninety-six more locally stranded individuals were sent home to Sulu and Tawi-Tawi on Monday, according to the Bangsamoro government.

In a statement, the Bangsamoro said of the 96 LSIs, 45 tested negative for COVID-19, while the 51 who tested positive have already recovered from the illness. They have also completed their 14-day quarantine in the isolation facilities in BARMM.

The 96 LSIs, who boarded the MV Lady Mary Joy-3 at the Polloc Port in Parang, Maguindanao, were part of the last batch of the 405 LSIs who will be sent off to Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

It can be recalled that the 405 LSIs from Manila were originally bound for Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi but were re-routed to Cagayan de Oro City on July 7.

The Bangsamoro government then hired 17 buses to take the LSIs to Zamboanga City, the nearest port of entry to the island provinces, but they had to be re-routed to Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao due to unforeseen circumstances.

Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo said the Bangsamoro government has also provided the LSIs with P5,000 in cash assistance, 25 kilograms of rice, groceries, medicines and hygiene kits from the BARMM’s Ministry of Social Services and Development and Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence.

“Pinadalhan po namin kayo ng iba pang gamit para pagdating niyo sa inyong mga probinsiya ay kaya niyong mamuhay ng ilang weeks habang nag-aadjust, at tuluyang mapadali ang pag-integrade niyo sa inyong mga komunidad,” Sinarimbo said. — DVM, GMA News