CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–Aside from helping locally stranded individuals (LSIs) residing in Cagayan de Oro, the city government’s humanitarian assistance cluster also assisted 116 LSIs and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) going home to other areas in Mindanao since March 30.

They are from Agusan del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, Koronadal, Surigao del Sur, Misamis Occidental, and Bukidnon, among others.

Initially, 66 of the non-residents of the city were brought to isolation facilities here while they waited for their local government units (LGUs) to facilitate their transfer.

Chaissa Dulguime, head of CDO humanitarian assistance, said they have also listed 50 other non-residents of the city who were brought to a holding area prior to returning to their hometowns.

She said the LSIs and ROFs returned to their home provinces via sea and air travels at Macabalan Port and Laguindingan Airport, respectively. 

Even if they are not residents of CDO, Dulguime said the city government had to support the COVID-19 Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases by providing immediate assistance to people who reached the city while waiting for their respective LGUs to come and fetch them.

In the holding area, health workers obtained pertinent information from the LSIs and ROFs for health profiling and risk assessment. The latter were also provided with food and medical assistance. 

Councilor Yan Lam Lim, Liga ng mga Barangay president, and First District Rep. Rolando Uy provided aid by sending foams where the LSIs and ROFs can comfortably rest and food while they wait for their transfer.

For his part, Mayor Oscar Moreno called on LGUs to work as one in helping people in the holding area until they are brought back to their hometowns. (SPP/PIA10)