No more remaining LSIs in Rizal sports complex for now, says DOLE exec

MANILA, Philippines — There are no more remaining locally stranded individuals (LSIs) staying at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, according to an official of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Thursday.

During the House committee on good governance hearing, Minority Leader and Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante asked if it was true that there were no remaining LSIs in the complex.

“Sa ngayon po, wala na pong tao o LSI dun po sa stadium kasi ngayong araw, may [decontamination] po tayo ngayon,” DOLE Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez told Abante.

(For now, we do not have any person or LSI remaining in the stadium because we are doing a decontamination.)

“Yung mga naiwan at natira pa pong LSI ay dinala po natin sa isang temporary shelter. Yung mga nag-positive at immediate family po nila ay dinala po natin sa isang isolation area,” he added.

(Those remaining LSIs were taken to a temporary shelter. While those who tested positive and their immediate family were taken to an isolation area.)

Benavidez also said that around a thousand stranded individuals boarded a ship bound for Region 9 early Thursday.

The DOLE, according to Benavidez, is part of a technical working group assigned to assist LSIs in going back to their home provinces.

The Rizal Memorial Sports Complex became the subject of headlines after it was reported that thousands of individuals, who are waiting for government-sponsored trips back to their home provinces, were crammed in the facility since July 25.

Photos from the situation regarding the situation of LSIs later earned public criticism over lack of social distancing.

Presidential Management Staff Assistant Secretary Joseph Encabo earlier said that 48 of the LSIs in the facility tested positive for COVID-19.

When asked what steps the TWG will take to make sure that the cramming of LSIs won’t happen again, Benavidez said: “Ito po ay ayusin namin sa pag-ischedule ng paghiwa-hiwalay ng mga rehiyon nang sa ganun ay di po sila sabay-sabay na pumupunta sa isang venue.”

(We will fix the schedule of how to separate the regions, so that people won’t flock to just one venue.)

“Let’s say for next week, ipapadala natin yung mga  LSI papuntang Region 12 or Region 13. Hindi na natin paghahalu-haluin,” Benavidez explained.

(Let’s say for next week, we will fly the LSI going Region 12 or Region 13. This way, we won’t have to mix them together.)

“Nagkakaroon po ng bugso kasi kahit hindi pa po nila schedule, pumupunta na rin po sila sa venue,” he added.

(There was a crowd of people because even if it was not their schedule, they already went to the venue.)

JE