7,500 LSIs allowed entry at Rizal stadium due to rains, heat -exec

About 7,500 locally stranded individuals (LSIs) have been made to gather and stay at the baseball field of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex following days of rains and hot temperature, Presidential Management Staff Assistant Secretary Joseph Encabo said on Saturday.

"Kaya po namin sila pinapasok po, kasi unang una dahil dalawang gabi po silang inulan at naiinitan din kahit paano," Encabo, who is also the lead convener of the Hatid Tulong Program, said in a Dobol B sa News TV interview.

"Ang ginawa ng Technical Working Group (TWG) ay binigyan po muna sila ng shelter kagabi. Dahil ang mga buntis, mga bata, mga senior citizen at PWDs ay dapat nating bigyan ng shelter para hindi po sila maulanan at mainitan," Encabo added.

His comments came following photos showing that social distancing seemed to be no longer observed at the facility, with some of LSIs preparing makeshift beds outside of the stadium due to health concerns amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Encabo said the first batch scheduled to depart this Saturday is composed of around 700 people going back to their provinces in Region 10, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Butuan.

The dispatching for around 600 to 700 people going to Region 11 or the Davao region has also already started. Food packs have been provided by the government for their two-day travel, according to Encabo.

For those walk-ins, Encabo said they accomodated the LSIs based on the endorsement of LGUs, government agencies and private groups. —MDM, GMA News