Makilala, North Cotabato – A total of 19 stranded Cotabateños due to the Covid lockdown in various areas were finally one-step closer to their loveones as they were welcomed here at the provincial border today May 4, 2020.
With complete documents including quarantine and health certificate, acceptance letter from their respective LGUs, and PCR test result for OFWs, said Cotabato residents who have been stranded in different parts of the country were finally able to set foot on their home – the Province of Cotabato, following campaign of the provincial government to “sagip” stranded “kababayans” and bring them back to their families.
The rescued Cotabateños were filled with gratefulness to Cotabato Governor Nancy A. Catamco for her heartfelt “message of love” through its “Sagip” program.
Governor Catamco has created Task Force Sagip Stranded North Cotabateños last Wednesday April 29, 2020 designed to help stranded residents of the province due to the global Covid-19 crisis particularly, repatriated OFWs, stranded OFWs (about to travel abroad), laid off workers, and stranded tourists and students.
First two batches were a family of 6 and are residents of Kabacan, Cotabato; and 4 members of another family from Poblacion, Kidapawan City who travelled all the way from the municipality of Loreto and Trento, respectively – all of Agusan del Sur.
Also rescued were two laid off female workers from a BPO in Davao City due to Covid-19 who also arrived at the border; they were residents of Tulunan.
While last to arrive were a group of seafarers, from Makilala (2), Kidapawan (1), Midsayap (1), Matalam (1), and Pigcawayan (1) and a mother from Midsayap who all arrived at Davao International Airport today via “sweeper” flight facilitated by the Department of Transportation (DOT). The group were from Clark, Pampangga who also underwent strict quarantine before their flight.
The rescued Cotabateños will undergo a 14-day quarantine, either in their respective homes, if the city/municipal epidemiology surveillance unit (C/MESU) would recommend, or at the facility identified by the LGU in the event that they would not qualify for home quarantine. During the quarantine period, local health care workers will strictly monitor the quarantined individuals and provide food for those who will be quarantined in the facility.
Kabacan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer (MDRRMO) David Don Saure, Makilala MDRRMO Sonny Fontanilla, and representatives from Kidapawan and Tulunan LGUs officially accepted their constituents from the provincial government represented by Executive Assistant Basilio A. Obello, Jr.
The LGUs will facilitate the return of their constituents from the border to their respective community where they will undergo the 14-day quarantine. LGU Matalam also fetched their stranded constituent this evening while 3 others were temporarily accommodated at the border facility while awaiting for their LGUs.
The “Sagip” program is a convergence of local officials in the province including local chief executives, congressional representatives, DepEd, Office of Civil Defense, DOT, DILG, and other national agencies.
Despite of the lockdown implemented in the borders of various provinces and localities, the task force were able to arrange the way back home for stranded Cotabateños.
As of this writing, some 4,000 or more individuals have already enrolled to the Task Force Sagip Stranded North Cotabateño official Facebook page. //lqg//
