Gov to Leyte execs: Coordinate with us

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia asked Leyte provincial government to coordinate with the Cebu provincial government in arranging trips to Leyte for its stranded residents in Cebu.

On March 30, the Leyte Provincial Board passed a resolution appealing to Garcia to include stranded Leyteños in Cebu in the province’s relief operations.

“This group of stranded Leyteños in Cebu are not listed as among those who are entitled to receive assistance in their respective areas, as they are students who have no classes, workers who have no work, all of whom have either no more money, food and medicines,” the resolution reads.

To this, Garcia responded that Leyte can follow the example of Negros Oriental where stranded Negrenses in Cebu were housed in a public school and given aid by their own provincial government.

This was said during a press conference yesterday at the Cebu Provincial Capitol.

"Kung anaa kini mga lungsod, maayo tingali nga sama sa gibuhat sad sa Negros Oriental… nagpadayon og pada og assistance ang province of Negros ngadto sa mga gitawag nga stranded," Garcia said.

"So for the Province of Leyte, two things: I can only speak for the Province of Cebu and we would like to know how many are stranded," she added.

Garcia also noted that the LGUs in Cebu might find it heavy to extend aid operations to Leyteños in their cities and municipalites at the moment.

"As of now, kung mismo ang LGUs pa mismo pa ang mo-extend og aid, medyo bug-at na kaayo ron. So maayo matabangan sad intawn ang atong local government units," Garcia said.

Leyte also requested the province to allow Leyteños to head back to their home province.

To this, Garcia showed much eagerness and said the Province of Leyte only needs to coordinate with the Cebu provincial government.

This, she added, is to ensure the smooth flow of transport considering the suspension of mass transport in Cebu that comes with the enhanced community quarantine.

"Kung ilang dawaton, by all means, yes, of course. I-ingon lang sa ato kay para dunay proper handling bitaw. Dili nga magdasuk na pud. Kay karon wa nay public transportation," Garcia said.

She also stressed that although the province has prohibited entry of passengers, outbound trips have never been restricted.

"We only restricted entry, we never restricted exit. So, pwede gyud ni sila kauli kung dawaton," she said.  KQD (FREEMAN)