Image by: Rex Remitio/ CNNPH

DILG XII Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, CESO III issued an appeal to all Region XII residents who had been caught in community quarantines in various places in the country to immediately get in touch with authorities to help facilitate their return home.

This developed as the DILG XII-Regional Operation Center received plea for help from a group of tourists and OFWs alike who got caught in the enhanced community quarantine that was implemented in Cebu City.

“We are saddened upon learning about the plight of our kababayans who are now on their own after weeks of the community quarantine in Cebu City, and perhaps in other places. Through their letter, we were able to know that they are now living in boarding houses or inns in various parts of Cebu and are in touch with each other through the social media,” Dir. Leysa shared.

The OpCen has learned that this group of Region XII residents came from various places abroad like United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Singapore, China and Japan but they have already been confined as part of the quarantine requirements.  Dir. Leysa continued, “some of these OFWs were able to receive allowances from OWWA VII but not all of them got the same financial assistance since many were tourists”. These stranded OFWs lament that they are now spending their own money for quite some time and they cannot sustain it without government intervention. More than 60 of these stranded residents have been accounted for and are awaiting the scheduled mercy flight.

In a virtual meeting on April 14 wherein all the 25 members of the Joint RIATG-RTF Covid 19, it was agreed upon unanimously that the Overseas Worker’s Welfare Administration will be tapped to facilitate the travel of OFWs, whether by plane or ship. The LGU will then take charge of the transportation from the airport and these residents will be brought directly to their residences or isolation areas at home. 

In a separate interview, City Administrator Rene B. Jumilla informed the OpCen that they have indeed made an arrangements for a transport vehicle to pick up said residents once they land in Gen. Santos City.

According to Director Leysa, “‘sweeper’ or ‘mercy flights’ had been arranged by various countries, through their embassies and consulates, for their nationals who had been locked down in the Philippines.  Likewise, I believe it is our responsibility to ensure that our stranded residents will be brought home safely to their families in Region XII. I hope the others will be able to get in touch with a local DILG office wherever they are or they can approach any of the host LGUs who could help facilitate their flight back home.”

“I call on the LGUs to help locate stranded residents in the communities so that they can be brought home safely. They can keep in touch with us through various means, like the social media (dilg12 FB), through email (mail@region12.dilg.gov.ph) and the OpCen Hotline: 0917-157-9274,” Dir. Leysa explained.###