Stranded province residents in city allowed to go home

CEBU, Philippines —  Residents of Cebu province who are stranded in Cebu City may be allowed to go back to their respective hometowns if approved by their respective mayors, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said.

Garcia yesterday met with fourth district mayors in Medellin to lay down uniformed border control guidelines and protocols in their localities while under general community quarantine.

A common query from all mayors was the protocol for stranded residents who wish to go home to their respective cities and municipalities in the province.

While Garcia emphasized that it will be up to the mayors whether or not they will allow residents back in their respective local government units, she suggested that they should first be tested under a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

“Kung gikan na sa City of Cebu, maayo unta mapa test na sila. Magpa-swab unta na sila. We will assist ngari sa Kapitolyo,” she said.

Those who will test negative will then be given a certificate of clearance to travel back to the province.

Limited Supply

However, Garcia said while this is the ideal, the province’s supply of PCR tests are also limited.

Garcia established in previous press interviews that the province’s priority when it comes to PCR testing is the symptomatic patients manifesting Severe Acute Respiratory Illness and Influenza-Like Illness.

“Remember, limited ra among swabs… we are also prioritizing gyud ang katong mga nagpakita og symptoms,” she said.

Residents who wish to go home must inform their respective mayors so that officials in their home barangays may aptly prepare to institute safety protocols upon their return. This may include a 14-day quarantine.

Mayors also have the right to refuse entrance.

“Kung gikan sa City of Cebu, kinahanglan mananghid sa mayor. Kay aron ang mayor kung mosugot, paandamon ang barangay,” Garcia said.

Before they could go back, local government units concerned must also ensure that those who wish to return to their respective cities or municipalities are actually stranded individuals from the province.

This means that they are in Cebu City for a short visit, for class or for work.

Those who have been living in Cebu City for years are technically not considered stranded residents of the province.

As for residents in the province who wish to go back to their home LGUs also under the jurisdiction of the province, they will be allowed to do so but subject to strict safety protocols.

Stranded residents

Meanwhile, it was also taken up that residents from other provinces who are stranded in Cebu province may be allowed to go back "upon arrangement" with their respective local government units.

Under the guidelines established by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, travel is allowed between two GCQ zones.

Meanwhile, 14 people from in Pinamungajan, Cebu who have been stranded in Masbate will be allowed entry in Cebu.

The Bantay Dagat from Placer, Masbate will accompany the stranded Cebuanos and they will be received in the Maya port in Daanbantayan where personnel from Pinamungajan local government unit will be waiting to fetch them.

They will then be immediately transported to Pinamungajan.  JMD (FREEMAN)