More repatriates expect to return home

June 18, 2020

The City Government of Koronadal expects more repatriates to return to their homes. This is in line with the city’s program dubbed as “Bulig Balikbayan ng Lungsod ng Koronadal” wherein the number of returning koronadaleños wanted to avail the program is increasing.

As of June 16, this year, the City Health Office (CHO) listed a total of 597 returning strandees including 85 Returning Overseas Filipino (ROF) Workers and 512 Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) that the city had accommodated since the program started.

“Bulig Balikbayan ng Lungsod ng Koronadal” was launched in support to South Cobatato’s “Balik-Probinsya” Program which was established in response to the call of the national government that originally initiated the program. This aims to help individuals who were locked down to return to their respective provinces who are having difficulty returning home due to insufficient mobility.

All returning city dwellers will be subjected to a 14-day mandatory quarantine in compliance with the guidelines set by the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). Further, each client subject to quarantine may choose a quarantine facility suitable for his needs and convenience. This includes hotels, pension houses, barangay installation complexes, and home confinement. However, for those who wanted to avail of home isolation, the place must be subjected to inspection by the Department of Health (DOH) Region XII to ensure compliance with the minimum standards set by the IATF.

In the next few days, as more and more Koronadaleños are eager to return here, the number of returnees is expected to increase. After the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was lifted in May this year, these stranded individuals began to return to the city.

Photo Credit: City of Koronadal Investment and Promotions Center