LSIs lament poor conditions at Kalinga facility

Some locally stranded individuals (LSIs) who returned to their hometown of Pinukpuk, Kalinga lamented the poor living conditions in the facility where they are temporarily housed.

According to JM Encinas’ “Stand for Truth” report on Tuesday, Weng and her husband returned to Pinukpuk from Tanay, Rizal after losing their jobs amid the pandemic.

Upon arrival, however, they were disappointed to see that there was no decent restroom, sleeping area, clean water, nor staff to monitor their situation.

“Concern ko lang po doon, bakit gano’n ‘yung lugar na pinaglagyan sa’min, ubod po ng dumi, ang CR barado, pagdating po namin doon napakadugyot, bukod pa sa barado, may dumi na ng tao na mga nauna na sa amin nag-quarantine,” Weng said.

“‘Yung amin lang po sana bigyan ng pansin na sana man lang daw po may isang staff na sa kanila na pumunta sa amin, tignan kami kung ano ang sitwasyon namin sa lugar na ’yon,” she added.

Dr. Rizal Leo Cala of the rural health unit said there was no need to monitor LSIs since they were not ill.

“Nasa strategic location ‘yung facility which is ‘yung nagbabantay doon ay ‘yung barangay concerned. May mga tanod doon na tumitingin sa kanila sa harapan pero hindi ibig sabihin na puwede silang lumabas doon sa perimeter na ‘yon,” he said.

Some residents asked local authorities to allow LSIs to use the 55-bed isolation facility for COVID-19 patients in Kalinga since the province had few infections.

“We have to categorize no, yung pagdating ng LSI doon sa isolation area kasi they will be subjected for swab test ganun, pag na-positive ka ng swab test doon ka sa isolation center yung bago,” municipal administrator Danzel Langkit countered.

“Magtiis po tayo kasi hindi po natin kayang lagyan ng isolation units ‘yung 25 barangay’s natin ilang centralize lang ‘yung isolation center natin at we do not decide on our own but we have a committee na involved,” he added. — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News