IATF asked to allow 500 Northern Mindanao residents stranded in Metro Manila to return to their cities/provinces

CAGAYAN de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez asked the inter-agency task force (IATF) against Covid-19 again to allow about 500 residents of his city and Northern Mindanao who are stranded in Metro Manila, Clark and other parts of Luzon due to the enhanced community quarantine to return to their respective hometown.

In a letter to IATF chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. and his deputy Vince Dizon, Rodriguez requested that his constituents be allowed to leave by air or sea. Rodriguez had already made arrangements with PAL and 2GO. He has also requested the DND and AFP to provide for mercy flights.

“May I request for approval sweeper flights from Naia to Laguindingan International Airport (in Misamis Oriental) and passenger vessels to bring these people back to Cagayan de Oro and other parts of Northern Mindanao.

“May I also request that the national government put in place protocols in repatriating those stranded…and provide guidelines for local government units on the proper procedure in accepting these people back to their respective provinces,” he said in his letter.
Rodriguez said the government is “facing a humanitarian crisis of stranded Mindanao and Visayas residents in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.”

“These people have been stranded for around 50 days already. They are running low on food, hygiene kits and medical supplies. They are really desperate to go home and be with their loved ones,” he stressed.

He said the stranded Mindanaoans are composed of 309 from Cagayan de Oro City, 90 from Misamis Oriental and another 90 from Bukidnon, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte.
He said there are also students stuck in UP Los Baños in Laguna, while others were supposed to leave for abroad but were not able to because of the lockdown.

Rodriguez attached a list of his stranded constituents in his letter to Galvez and Dizon.

“I have been receiving text messages and e-mails asking for assistance for them to be able to go back to Cagayan de Oro and their respective provinces. They were working in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, but due to the ECQ, they were forced to stop working and are not receiving their salaries,” he said.

Rodriguez also informed the two officials that his constituents are ready to be tested. RT PCR testing can be conducted at the NAIA in the morning so that those found negative could leave for Laguindingan airport in the evening. Those leaving by sea should be tested at the pier, he said. (PR)