CALOOCAN CITY, July 5 (PIA) –The Philippine National Police is providing security and other assistance to thousands of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) in Metro Manila.

Yesterday, the PNP helped in securing LSIs from the NCR who wish to go back to their hometowns and provinces through the national government’s ‘Hatid Tulong’ Program held July 4 to July 5 at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

“We are prepared to give security to the returning LSIs with proper coordination with their receiving local government units,” PNP Chief, Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said.

The program is a transport assistance of the government to LSIs comprising of students, workers, OFWs, tourists, among others to go back to their respective places of origin all over the Philippines.

For the first day of the program, a Send-Off Ceremony was held at the Quirino Grandstand after the processing of their needed documents by the One-Stop Shop (OSS) manned by PNP personnel along with help desks for the issuance of Travel Authority to qualified individuals.

Also, the PNP Health Service provided medical teams composed of police doctors and nurses to be deployed to NCRPO in support to the Department of Health (DOH) personnel in the conduct of rapid testing and issuance of medical certificates.

Gamboa also noted that security measures have been heightened in all seaports, airports, and bus stops for the passage of buses and other vehicles carrying LSIs.

“On our part, the PNP is always here to assist our kababayans and to ensure that this two-day activity will be conducted orderly and peacefully while observing minimum health standards,” he said.

Gamboa also instructed all Police Regional Offices thru local police units to assist their respective LGUs and other agencies for the strict implementation of travel guidelines to the provinces to avoid the spread of COVID-19. (PNP-PIO/PIA-NCR)