CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–Noting the difficulties in handling the locally stranded individuals (LSIs) or returning oversease Filipinos (ROFs) in the barangay level, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 urges barangay local government units (BLGUs) to seek assistance from the municipal and provincial leaders since the former are not included in the provision of the Bayanihan Grant.
“Magtinabangay nalang karon kay galisud gyapon ang mga barangay sa ilang pundo. Gipanawagan ang mga punong barangays to coordinate with the municipal government mayors and provincial governors to assist the barangay sa ilang pag-quarantine o isolate sa mga repatriated individuals,” DILG-10 Regional Director Arnel Agabe said during the NorMin COVID-19 Response Task Force press conference, August 14.
(We should help one another in this time of crisis because the barangays also have difficulties with their funds. We ask our 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.
“Gikuha nga responsibilidad sa mga local government units ang nibalik nga locally stranded individuals o returning overseas Filipinos. Pag-abot nila, nagproblema ang barangay kay gusto usab nila ang makahatag ug pagkaon,” Agabe said.
(The 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 want to provide food)
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). (RTP/PIA10)
