The provincial government of Bohol sends out a total of P17 million in cash assistance to stranded offshore Boholanos, which was facilitated by the provincial government’s Offshore Boholanos Coordinating Team (OBCT).
Provincial Administrator Kathyrin Pioquinto revealed the information about the cash assistance to the offshore stranded Boholanos to members of media in an interview last Friday (June 5, 2020) at the Capitol.
Moreover, Pioquinto said a total of 8,540 individuals have already received P2,000 each as cash assistance extended to Boholanos stranded in other parts of the country.
In the interview, Pioquinto said that based on the latest records of OBCT, the members of the team have contacted a total of 25, 703 offshore stranded Boholanos.
Out of the 25, 703 Individuals contacted, 22, 018 persons were subjected to cross checking, about 17, 717 persons were validated to have roots in Bohol and 13,915 stranded Boholanos are identified to be eligible to receive financial assistance from the Bohol provincial government.
In earlier reports, it was revealed that not all stranded offshore Boholanos have the desire to return to Bohol, seeking only for some financial assistance from the provincial government. These stranded Boholanos are alternatively called locally stranded individuals (LSIs).
At the start of the enhanced community quarantine in the entire country, offshore stranded Boholanos reached out to the provincial government for financial aid.
In earlier reports, it was bared that the funds are uploaded by the provincial government to money remittance centers, and the offshore stranded Boholano can claim the funds from there.
In a related development, the provincial government started to accept returning LSI back in May 2020.
Under relaxed rules, an LSIs may be able to return to Bohol by coordinating with the focal person of the local government unit (LGU) where the LSIs belongs to and securing two pieces of documents: a medical certificate and a travel authority from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Upon arrival, the LSIs will be quarantined in a local government unit-managed quarantine facility. There is an option for LSIs who can afford a hotel for their quarantine area.
Another option, which is under the discretion of the mayors, is home quarantine.