126 stranded residents arrive home in Lanao del Sur

LAGUINDINGAN, Misamis Oriental — Some 126 Lanao del Sur residents who were stranded for months in Metro Manila because of the lockdown have finally returned home on Saturday.

The returning residents arrived at 1:40 pm at the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental on an AirAsia plane chartered by the Lanao del Sur provincial government.

Parliament member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) and spokesperson of the Lanao del Sur Inter-Agency Task Force Zia Alonto Adiong said they also chartered six Rural Transit aircon buses to bring the residents from the Laguindingan Airport to Marawi City.

“They have been stranded in Metro Manila long enough. They are now finally home,” Adiong said.

David de Castro, AirAsia spokesperson, said the Lanao del Sur provincial government chartered the flight to bring 160 residents home.

De Castro said only 126, however, made it to the flight. He said 34 residents were a no-show.

Lanao del Sur IATF member Shiela Ganda said the “no-show” residents may have encountered difficulty in securing their travel passes.

Ganda said the buses would bring the returning residents to Sagonsongan temporary shelter in Marawi City where doctors and nurses would examine them for possible symptoms of the COVID-19.

Once the residents finish their medical examination, the Lanao del Sur IATF will contact concerned LGUs to send their vehicles to pick them up.

Ganda said another round of examinations would be done at the municipal level. “The decision whether to quarantine or isolate the new arrivals would be in the hands of (the municipal government),” Ganda said.