4 LSIs housed in PPA Manila facility test positive for coronavirus

MANILA, Philippines — Four locally stranded individuals (LSIs) who are taking temporary shelter in a facility of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in Manila have tested positive for the coronavirus.

PPA General Manager Jay Santiago on Thursday said they were housed in the agency’s multi-purpose hall, where other LSIs were also being sheltered.

He added that some PPA personnel were also exposed to the four confirmed COVID-19 cases, forcing them to take mandatory quarantine.

“May apat na LSI doon na nag-positive after ipa-swab test. Na-expose din ang ilang mga tao natin kaya na-obliga tayo na mag quarantine ng ating mga tao,” Santiago said in an interview over ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo.

(There were 4 LSI who tested positive for the coronavirus. Some personnel were exposed to them thus we had to quarantine them.)

“‘Yung mga tao na ‘yun ang gumagamit ng multi-purpose hall ngayon,” he added.

(Those people are the ones using the multi-purpose hall now.)

This development made it more difficult for the PPA to accommodate LSIs since the facility had to be cordoned off.

At present, the PPA is housing about 250 LSIs in their headquarters, Santiago said.

Food supply for LSIs is also running low since donations are becoming scarce, he added.

“Medyo pipila-pilay tayo ngayon in terms sa pag-aasikaso sa kanila at mabigyan ng masisilungan,” the PPA official said.

(We are having difficulties in terms of giving shelter to LSIs.)

“Medyo hirap din tayo kasi naging matumal ‘yung tumutulong sa pagkain at PPA na lang ang nagtutulong-tulong para mapakain ‘yung mga stranded diyan,” he added.

(We are also having difficulty in providing food for LSIs as donations are becoming scarce. It is only the PPA that provides food for them.)

/MUF