Dr. Anthony Damalerio says there is no change in the repatriation of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) as long as there is coordination among the local government units (LGUs).

Damalerio said in a report that the national Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) through the Department of the Interior an Local Government (DILG) has not stopped the movement of LSIs.

He added that the IATF ordered the “unhampered” movement of LSIs.

Damalerio also bared that the regional office of the DILG released an order received by the Bohol IATF (B-IATF) saying there is no stoppage on the return of LSIs to their respective hometowns. There is just a need for an LGU to LGU arrangement, where there is coordination among LGUs in relation to the arrival of LSIs.

Furthermore, Damalerio said the B-IATF sought clarification from the Cebu City legal office on the movement of LSIs after sea travel from Cebu City was ordered suspended until June 30, 2020.

The PDRRMO chief said any master list of returning LSIs needs to be cleared first with the office of Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella.

He said that it is clear in Executive Order (EO) No. 83 that as long as there is consent from the receiving LGU, Cebu City has no problem allowing the travel of LSIs back to their provinces.

He further said all LGUs in Bohol have accepted the repatriated LSIs as properly coordinated with the respective focal persons of the town government.

All LSIs, he revealed, need to secure the necessary documents and should be willing to undergo 14 days of quarantine.

As of posting time, it was reported that Damalerio bared a negotiation with Labella’s office for the arrival of another batch of LSIs tonight, Thursday, June 18, 2020.

According to Labella’s EO No. 83, all inter-island sea travels are prohibited except for authorized government officials and employees, health and emergency personnel, law enforcement personnel, trucks and cargo vessels, and those persons given permission by the Cebu City mayor or his authorized representative.

Cebu City Mayor Labella issued EO No. 83 laying out the guidelines and protocols as the city is placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) until June 30, 2020