CORDON, Isabela, July 6 (PIA) – – A total of 29 Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) were sent back to their hometowns in Isabela province on Monday morning through the national government’s “Hatid Tulong” initiative.

Ferried via four Partas buses, the 29 LSIS who are from City of Ilagan (4), San Manuel (5), Gamu (3), Alicia (3), Aurora (2), Jones (2), Naguilian (2), Santo Tomas (2), San Isidro (2), Echague (1), Cabagan (1), Mallig (1) and Roxas (1) arrived at Cordon border checkpoint earlier today.

The beneficiaries are among the thousands who availed the mass send-off of LSIs bound to different parts of Luzon and Visayas yesterday at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila under the “Hatid Tulong” program.

Prior to their arrival, Atty. Elizabeth Binag, Hatid Tulong focal person of the Provincial Government of Isabela, has been closely coordinating with the Presidential Management Staff Regional Field Unit 02 to ensure the LSIs’ smooth travels.

On its part, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through DILG-Isabela coordinated with the concerned LGUs for the safe return of the LSIs while the Isabela Police Provincial Office ensured that safety protocols were observed at the Cordon border checkpoint upon arrival of the LSIs.

The LSIs were subjected for medical assessment at the border checkpoint administered by staff from the Isabela Provincial Health Office.

Assistant Provincial Health Officer Dr. Arlene Lazaro said that all LSIs underwent triaging at Punta Amelita Resort before they were turned-over to their respective Municipal Health Offices (MHOs) for the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Before they were sent off in Manila, the LSIs had been screened in Manila and underwent IATF travel protocols such as following the required conduct of rapid testing and issuance of travel authority before boarding to their assigned buses bound to provinces as part of the measures needed to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. (MDCT with reports from Isabela PIO/PIA-2)