TULONG PARA SA LSI, PROTEKSYON PARA SA BUONG PROBINSYA
By: Justin Paul D. Marbella, PIO | Photo By: PIO | Date: July 26, 2020
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.
