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The Provincial Government of La Union and its governance partners ensure strict implementation of protocols on the entry of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to the province, to protect the health safety and security of the general public.
PGLU emphasizes that OFWs who are locals of La Union should still be warmly welcomed as they arrive home and should not be hindered entry. However, proper protocols have to be enforced to prevent the potential transmission of the virus by these individuals who come from countries with high risk of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (CoViD-19).
The PGLU provides support to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office 1 (OWWA RWOI) in assisting OFWs as they arrive in the provincial border during their homeward travel.
As of July 31, 2020, the OWWA has facilitated the arrival of 1,212 OFWs in the province, coming mostly from Hongkong and Middle East. This is through the OWWA’s Hatid-Sundo Program, which started on March 18, 2020.
These OFWs arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City or the Clark International Airport in Pampanga. Upon their airport arrival, they are brought the OWWA-chartered quarantine facilities where they undergo swab test and wait for the result.
When the OFWs receive negative result from their RT-PCR test, they are then ferried by the OWWA to their respective home provinces. OFWs who yield positive from the RT-PCR are not allowed to travel to their home province, until they recover from the disease.
The PGLU, meanwhile, facilitates the triaging of the arriving OFWs upon their arrival at the provincial border in Rosario. OFWs who show symptoms are brought to the local isolation facilities. However, all arriving OFWs assisted so far were cleared at the checkpoint, and thus allowed to proceed home.
When they arrive home, the OFWs are still required to complete their 14-day home quarantine, which is being monitored by the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) of their respective communities.
While it enforces stringent protocols for arriving OFWs, the PGLU also emphasizes the values of compassion of hospitality. Hence, the OFWs should be welcomed with love, because after all, they are our kaprobinsiaan who are toiling hard abroad to provide for their families. Nevertheless, even when far from home, they are also instrumental in our bid in building a #StrongerLaUnion.

KALUSUGAN NG MGA KABATAAN, PATULOY NA ISINUSULONG NG LA UNION
The Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU), through the Provincial Health Office (PHO), remains resolute in its efforts to promote health and wellness among the constituents, most especially children who are among the most vulnerable from COVID-19.
To cap the celebration of the National Nutrition Month this July, the PHO has distributed ‘nutrition bags’ to 22 kids in Brgy. Santiago Norte and Santiago Sur in the City of San Fernando, La Union on July 28, 2020.
The bags contained vitamins, slippers, pajamas, and nutritional snacks. The kids, who were all below five years old, also received hygiene kits composed of toothbrush, toothpaste, bath soap, face towel and face mask.
To guide the parents in the nutritional rearing of their children, they were given with information materials such as on Executive Order 004-2007 that highlights the importance of the provincial vegetable, malunggay, to good nutrition; anti-dengue tips; the Ten “Kumainments” promulgated by the National Nutrition Council; and the promotion of Iron-fortified rice consumption.
The PGLU recognizes the importance of nutrition, most especially now in this global health crisis. As such, we shall continue to promote our governance initiatives on health, as part of our journeys towards building a #StrongerLaUnion.

Our efforts in the Provincial Government to further strengthen our checkpoint protocols continue, together with the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection.
After the assessment and inspection on the operations of our border checkpoints, through the leadership of Gov Pacoy, the Provincial Core Team Against COVID-19 (PCTAC) Sub-Committee on Checkpoint and Security Capt Gregor Mendel Panelo together with Sub-Committee on Health Emergency Response, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Eduardo Posadas and Designate Assistant Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Alvin Cruz, convened with the Officers of the La Union Provincial Police Office headed by Provincial Director PCOL Jay R Cumigad today, July 27, 2020.
Through the meeting, the body was able to jointly conduct further assessment on border control and checkpoint operations. As a result, the LUPPO shall set up a command conference to reiterate the need to enforce stricter checkpoint protocols and to cascade the necessary appropriate actions.
As the government continues to strengthen its disease prevention and surveillance efforts, we enjoin our Kaprobinsiaan to continue being vigilant and to work closely with your local governments because we are definitely stronger when you are #WithUs!

From the very beginning of the pandemic, Gov Pacoy champions helping our Kaprobinsiaan who needs assistance given the resources that the Provincial Government has. “Lahat ng mangangailangan ng tulong, tutulungan natin sa abot ng ating makakaya”, the Governor always reiterates to his team. One of the programs the Provincial Government supports is the Hatid Tulong Program of the National Government. Through the program, Locally- Stranded Individuals from various areas who wish to go home to our Province are repatriated.
Following a well-defined system and enforcing strict protocols, LSIs are given the warmest welcome while preventing the transmission and spread of the virus in the Province. The Province expects LSIs coming from Manila thus preparations were made to include establishing a drop-off area, deploying support teams, ensuring the readiness of isolation facilities, sourcing the necessary logistics and equipment, as well as coordinating with the hospitals to anticipate possible referral of patients.
The readiness and strength of the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) to provide assistance to LSIs is made possible through working coherently with its governance partners to include the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Office of Civil Defense, Department of Health, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Information Agency, and the Presidential Management Staff.
On July 26, 2020, a total of 21 Locally-Stranded Individuals (LSIs) were assisted. They arrived in two batches, at 7:17pm and 11:53pm successively. The first batch was comprised of four (4) returnees to Bacnotan, four (4) to Agoo, and one (1) each to Caba and Naguilian; while the second batch is composed of seven (7) returnees to Agoo and three (3) to Naguilian.
They were subjected to strict screening and orientation, decontamination protocols and triage procedures as they arrived at the checkpoint in Rosario. The 11 Agoo residents were transferred and housed in their isolation facility through the initiative of the Municipal Government of Agoo while the other nine (9) LSIs together with an LSI returning to San Gabriel who was intercepted at Bauang, and the two (2) drivers of the service bus coming from Manila who happen to be residents of San Fernando City, are now isolated and taken care of at the Home of Hope: Provincial Isolation Facility.
At the facility, hygiene kits, food, and other amenities are provided and their health status are monitored by health care personnel. They shall also undergo RT-PCR Test as the LSIs only had Rapid Test in Manila. If the test result shows negative, the LSI shall be allowed to go home, but should strictly impose upon themselves the 14-day self-isolation. Their respective Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) shall monitor them daily up to the completion of their quarantine period. On the other hand, if the test result shows positive, the patient will be referred to appropriate health care facility for monitoring and treatment.
To date, a total of 128 LSIs were assisted by the Province together with the component LGUs and other governance partners, 79 of which were through our initiated-program, Awid Kaprobinsiaan, while 49 were through the Hating Tulong program. The PGLU is committed to ensuring the welfare of every kaprobinsiaan, including those who desire to rebuild their lives here in their home province. We shall uphold the spirit of hospitality and compassion, while enforcing strict health protocols to safeguard public safety and security. All these in our common goal to build a #StrongerLaUnion.

The Provincial Government together with its governance partners continue to strengthen its concerted efforts to protect the health and safety of the constituents amid challenges and difficulties.
Particularly, in our quarantine control points, teams are deployed composed of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection and the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) to man and implement checkpoint protocols to include review of documents and conduct of triage procedures as well as ensure observance of minimum public health standards among travellers.
Moreover, to assess the current operations and identify the necessary support for the different teams in the quarantine control points, Gov. Pacoy sends a monitoring team headed by its Provincial Core Team Against CoViD-19 (PCTAC) Sub-Committee Head on Checkpoint and Security, Capt Gregor Mendel Panelo on July 25, 2020.
The PGLU shall continue to work more rhythmically and harmoniously with its governance partners to continue with its objective of protecting the welfare of the people given its resources and capabilities.
Our Kaprobinsiaan are encouraged to continue being vigilant and engaged with the government because together, when you are #WithUs, we are stronger!

TOGETHER ON BOARD. To discuss updates on the status of COVID-19 and strategies to move forward in combating the virus, Gov. Pacoy meets with the Local Chief Executives of the component Local Government Units (LGUs) of the province through a virtual conference on July 24, 2020.
Also tackled in the meeting were inter-LGU challenges given the imposition of Enhanced Community Quarantine in the City of San Fernando and the Municipality of Caba and how to address the same while remaining aligned with the National Government directives.
The Hatid Tulong Program plan was also presented as Locally-Stranded Individuals are expected to arrive on Sunday, July 26, 2020. This is to ensure that necessary protocols to include isolation and testing to prevent the transmission and spread of the virus will be strictly enforced.
Also present during the meeting were PNP Provincial Director PCOL Jay R Cumigad and the members of the Provincial Core Team Against COVID-19 (PCTAC).
Through the continued unity and coherent actions among all the LGUs, stakeholders and constituents, we can win against the pandemic and look forward to a stronger La Union.