More stranded individuals to be sent home

MANILA, Philippines — The government plans to send home more locally stranded individuals (LSIs) to their respective home provinces as more local government units (LGUs) have expressed readiness to accept their returning residents.

The lead convenor of the Hatid Tulong program, however, appealed to LSIs to coordinate first with their local governments in their hometowns before proceeding to send-off areas of the program.

Presidential Management Staff Assistant Secretary Joseph Encabo said this was to prevent stranded people from camping out in the send-off areas, like outside the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“We urge them to follow the process of the Hatid Tulong initiative. They should coordinate with LGUs first and if they were contacted by our Hatid Tulong staff, it’s only then that they should go to designated areas for our send-off,” Encabo said during an online briefing on Friday.

He suggested that LSIs coordinate with local officials of their hometowns through their relatives there.

The local government will then provide the Hatid Tulong staff a validated list of LSIs who wish to return to their communities.

Encabo said program organizers were planning more pocket send-offs of LSIs, prioritizing LGUs which expressed willingness to accept returning residents.

“We will prioritize LSIs returning to regions or provinces willing to accept LSIs once more,” he said.

Among the LGUs who gave a go signal for LSIs are Negros Oriental, Dumaguete, Cotabato, South Cotabato, Jolo, Tawi-Tawi, Palawan and Romblon, he said.