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Tugade assures LSIs of comfort, convenience, safety as they return home 

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Tugade assures LSIs of comfort, convenience, safety as they return home 

CALOOCAN CITY, July 2 (PIA) – Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade along with other transport officials inspected the facilities at the NAIA Terminal 3 to check on the conditions of the stranded passengers on Wednesday.

The transport chief was acting on the orders of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during his televised address to the nation late Tuesday evening, to assist locally stranded individuals (LSIs) who want to go back to their respective provinces

During the inspection,  Tugade ordered all concerned agencies and offices of the Department to join the multi-agency drive to assist LSIs as ordered by the President while also strictly enforcing health and safety protocols to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Seeing the lack of seats available for the stranded passengers, Tugade ordered the purchase an initial number of seats, and added that the Department will be implementing a program to increase the seating capacity at the airport.

“While observing social distancing, nag-utos po ako  na bumili ng upuan, para antimano madagdagan. Nasa 2,000 po ‘yun minimum, sa umpisa, pero magkakaroon kami ng programa na madaragdagan ‘yung seating capacity,” Tugade said.

The transport chief also assured the stranded passengers at the airport that their safety and convenience are the President’s top-most priority. He explained that the government is exhausting all efforts to help every locally stranded individual.

As for the flight schedules of the stranded passengers, Tugade made the assurance that action is now being taken to fly stranded passengers to their home provinces.

“Makikipagpulong kami sa mga airlines at makikipag-coordinate sa LGUs para sa schedule ng flights ng stranded nating mga kababayan,” he said.

From 8 June-12 June 2020, a total of 825 LSIs who were camped inside and outside the NAIA Terminal 3 facility were rescued by the DOTr and were brought to Villamor Elementary School and Philippine State College of Aeronautics in Pasay City.

That same week, 395 LSIs were sent home by the Department to their respective provinces in cooperation with airline companies that mounted additional flights.

DOTr Assistant Secretary Eymard Eje said that through random interviews made with some of the LSIs, the DOTr learned several reasons why individuals opted to stay at the vicinity of NAIA.

“Maraming dahilan kung bakit sila nagtungo sa ilalim ng flyover. Una, may mga ticket sila pauwi sa kanilang mga probinsya, subalit na-cancel ang kanilang flight or na-rebook noong araw na nagpunta sila sa airport o kaya nandoon na sila sa paliparan. Ikalawa, marami din sa kanila ang nalinlang ng kanilang mga manning agencies. Sinabihan sila na pwede silang makaalis basta magpunta lang sa airport at binigyan ng kopya ng ticket pero pagdating nila sa airport ay matagal na palang cancelled ang flight at rebooked na sa mas malayong petsa. Ang intension ng mga manning agencies na ito ay upang tanggalin lang sa ilalim ng kanilang pangangalaga at obligasyon ang mga LSIs. ‘Yung iba naman po, mga walang ticket ng eroplano, umaasa lamang sila na matutulungan ng gobyerno para makauwi,” Eje narrated.

From 13 June to 18 June 2020, the remaining 430 LSIs at the airport were sent home to their provinces. The DOTr also coordinated with the Pasay City Police Office and Southern Police District to cordon the Circulo del Mundo and prevent the gathering of LSIs.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) facilitated the accommodation of the LSIs as chance passengers, negotiated with the airline companies for the early rebooking of the LSIs, and requested airline companies to mount additional flights to accommodate the ticketed LSIs.

For its part, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) assisted 15,672 individuals, including LSIs under its Hatid-Probinsya now known as Hatid Tulong Program. According to the PCG, some 15,000 LSIs were sent home under the Hatid Tulong Program using all transportation assets from 01 May – 15 June 2020.

On 16 June 2020, the BRP Gabriela Silang transported 150 LSIs to Davao and General Santos City. On 26 June 2020, the BRP Gabriela Silang ferried 150 LSIs and 30 Indigenous Peoples to Zamboanga, General Santos City, Davao and Cagayan De Oro City.

The Philippine National Railways (PNR) was able to assist 234 LSIs who went home to the Bicol Region via trains. On 20 June 2020, the first batch composed of 117 LSIs were sent home, with the second batch composed of 117 LSIs also transported to the Bicol Region on 25 June 2020.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) also pitched-in to support the DOTr’s operations to assist the LSIs.

The PPA was able to assist 1,411 LSIs with 727 sent to Dumaguete/Zamboanga aboard M/V St. Michael the Archangel on 20 June 2020. On 29 June 2020, the PPA sent 500 LSIs home to Cagayan de Oro aboard the M/V St. Leo the Great. According to the PPA, 113 LSIs bound for Bacolod/Iloilo were not allowed to board per request of moratorium from the receiving Local Government Units (LGUs) of Region 6. Meanwhile, 203 LSIs are still at the PPA Annex Building, waiting for the lifting of moratorium from the receiving LGUs of Region 6. As the LSIs wait for clearance from their respective LGUs to return home, the PPA is providing them with meals.

For their part, the MIAA and the CAAP reported having assisted 50 LSIs on 01 July 2020. Those stranded were given chairs and were allowed to stay at specified concession areas at the NAIA while they wait for their flight schedules.

Those stranded were also given Malasakit Kits. According to the MIAA and the CAAP, LSIs with flight schedules within 48 hours were allowed entry at the departure area instead of waiting outside. In addition, complete daily meals were provided by MIAA and CAAP following the order from  Tugade to take into consideration the religious and dietary needs of those stranded. (DOTr/PIA-NCR)

   

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