IATF oks return of LSIs to Western Visayas Gilbert Bayoran

MANILA, Philippines — Stranded residents from Western Visayas can now return to their home province.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) issued on Tuesday Resolution 71, allowing the return of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) in the region following an assessment of the rate of transmission, among other factors, in relation to the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 in the area.

Covered by the lifting of the travel ban are LSIs from Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Antique, including Iloilo City.

Local chief executives in Negros Occidental sought the suspension of the return of LSIS on Sept. 7 to allow the decongestion of their quarantine facilities.

More than 200 LSIs, who were supposed to return on Sept. 9, have since been stranded at the Port of Manila.

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said they are coordinating with the national IATF for the return of the stranded residents within the week.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, local IATF chairman, said returning LSIs from Western Visayas are still barred in Bacolod City, which remains under modified enhanced community quarantine.

As this developed, the Philippine Coast Guard has allowed the return of Negrense LSIs from Tabuelan port in Cebu.

Around 200 LSIs in Cebu  returned to Negros Occidental on Monday.