The provincial government has finally eased travel restrictions on stranded individuals in all parts of the province, allowing them to travel back to their hometowns using private or public conveyances, along with other persons who are authorized to travel.
Jeremias Alili, chief of Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), in a phone interview on Friday afternoon, affirmed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issuance allowing pre-arranged travel for the “local stranded individuals (LSI)”.
“Halimbawa, El Nido pauwi ng Aborlan o Narra, kukuha lang sila ng health clearance at travel authority,” Alili said.
The LSI needs to secure a quarantine clearance from the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT), which is a prerequisite for the issuance of health clearance from the Municipal Health Office (MHO).
”Ang magi-issue ng health clearance ay MHO. Bago naman mag-issue si MHO, kailangan si barangay health workers sila ang magce-certify na ‘yong tao na stranded na yan ay nakapag-quarantine,” Alili added.
The travel authority from the municipality, coordinated with Provincial COVID-19 Shield, would be coursed through the Provincial Philippine National Police (PNP).
“Pagka-okay na ‘yon, may authority na siya, that’s the time na ico-coordinate namin sa local government unit (LGU) of destination. Halimbawa, Aborlan ‘yong kanilang pagtransport either susunduin sila or magha-hire itong nga stranded papunta sa kanilang munisipyo,” Alili added.
At least one public transport company, Cherry Bus Lines, in its official Facebook page, announced that they will resume operations starting Monday (May 18).
Mass transport services are allowed to operate under reduced capacity, limiting passengers to allowed persons outside residence (APOR) and LSI who were able to secure travel permits.
However, the inter-town travel restrictions for the general public remains in place throughout the province.(With reports from Ruth Rodriguez)
