Stranded Cebuanos in Negros Oriental allowed to come home

CEBU, Philippines — Stranded Cebuanos in Negros Oriental may now be able to travel back to the Province of Cebu via Negros-Samboan route.

This announcement was posted on the Facebook page of the Samboan local government unit (LGU) yesterday. In the post, the LGU affixed the documentary requirements needed to be allowed transit back to Cebu.

Among these are travel authority to be issued by the Negros Provincial Police Office, a certification stating that the passenger has tested negative for COVID-19, and an acceptance/ coordination certificate from the receiving LGU bearing the true residency of the passenger.

For the certification of a negative test result, a Rapid Diagnostic Test may be acceptable if Polymerase Chain Reaction testing is unavailable. In the absence of both, a medical certificate issued by the Negros Provincial Health Office may be presented.

It must be certified that the passenger exhibited no symptoms for the coronavirus disease and has had no contact with a COVID-19 positive case nor any suspected or probable cases.

Upon disembarking, receiving LGU must have a vehicle for the transport of passengers waiting in the Samboan Port.

Private vehicles may not be allowed to receive passengers unless the acceptance certificate specifies the vehicle's plate number and gives authorization to the driver.

Only one trip will be allowed daily. Time of departure from Tampi, Negros Oriental will be at 12:30 pm.

Passengers must pay for their own fare and wear facemasks for the entire duration of their travel. Social distancing will be strictly implemented in the trip.

Returning passengers must then undergo the established health protocols of their respective cities or municipalities. For Samboanons, the post reads that they must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

To recall, the Province of Cebu and the Province of Negros Oriental have been put under general community quarantine from May 16 until May 31. As per IATF guidelines, travel from GCQ zone to GCQ is allowed.

OFWs

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered local government officials to allow repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to return home to their respective hometowns and provinces.

“I’m ordering you to accept them, open the gates of your territories and allow the people—and allow the Filipino to travel wherever they want," he said.

The OFWs were left jobless because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Duterte said he already ordered government offices concerned to facilitate the immediate return of over 24,000 OFWs stranded in Metro Manila. The OFWs were tested negative for coronavirus.

But several governors and mayors are reportedly against the return of the OFWs.

“Nobody but only the national government can impose restrictions on travels because it is the only agency that can declare that there is an emergency of national interest,” said Duterte.

About 300,000 OFWs are expected to return to the Philippines this year as lockdowns meant to curb the coronavirus pandemic left many businesses struggling to survive.  Philippine Star News Service/KQD (FREEMAN)