Village execs told to tap mayors, guvs in handling LSIs, ROFs

NORTHERN Mindanao local government department urged village officials to seek assistance from their town and provincial heads in handling the locally stranded individuals (LSIs) or returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) in their barangays.

DILG-10 director Arnel Agabe during the Normin Covid-19 response task force press briefing noted the difficulties in handling the LSIs and ROFs in the barangay level.

Tap and seek assistance from the municipal and provincial leaders since the former are not included in the provision of the Bayanihan Grant, according to Agabe.

“Magtinabangay nalang karon kay galisud gyapon ang mga barangay sa ilang pundo,” said Agabe asking  punong barangays to coordinate with the municipal government mayors and provincial governors to assist the barangay in conducting the quarantine or isolation of the repatriated individuals.

Agabe said such is part of the national government’s ‘Oplan Kalinga’ where all local chief executives (LCEs) are enjoined to immediately perform the identification and transfer of COVID-19 positive individuals to identified quarantine/isolation and medical facilities in their respective area of jurisdiction.

Based on reports, DILG-10 has also noted difficulties on food provision in barangay isolation units. 

Local government units took the responsibility in handling the locally stranded individuals or returning overseas Filipinos. Upon their return, the barangay had a problem since they also wanted to provide food, Agabe said.

Aside from tapping the LCEs, DILG-10 also encouraged families of LSIs/ROFs to also provide food to their isolated member/s of the family to also help the government especially the barangays. 

Currently, the number of isolation units per province are as follows: Bukidnon (391), Camiguin (68), Lanao del Norte (515), Misamis Occidental (651), Misamis Oriental (384), CDO (126), and Iligan (3). (Recthie Tolinero/PIA10)