Gov’t to bring home last batch of stranded persons

The government will bring home to their provinces one last batch of locally stranded individuals (LSI) to their provinces before suspending the transport of LSIs to their hometowns.

Malacañang urged the local government units receiving the returning LSIs to screen them for coronavirus through testing, and place them under quarantine.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Friday explained that two 2Go passenger ships with stranded individuals onboard would leave for Bacolod, Iloilo and Cagayan.

“This will be the last batch of LSIs that will be allowed to return to their respective hometowns until we subject them to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests,” he said.

Local officials have complained that some returning residents had tested positive for COVID-19, leading to a rise in infections in their areas. —Julie M. Aurelio