A Boholano locally stranded individual (LSI) is stranded in Bato, Leyte following the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) order suspending inter-region LSI trips.
In a radio interview on Monday, July 6, 2020, over “Newsmakers ug Uban Pa” hosted by the sister tandem of Ardy Batoy and Gloria Araneta, Baclayon treasurer’s office staff Restituto “Jun” Gatal Jr. revealed that his son, an LSI, was denied a return trip to Bohol due to the travel restriction imposed by the PCG.
He said that his son has already complied with all the documents that an LSI needs in order to return to his home province, only to be told that no more LSI trips are momentarily allowed.
A check by The Bohol Tribune on Monday with the local headquarters of the PCG revealed the truth of Gatal’s statement.
Indeed, inter-region LSIs trips among regions 6,7,8 and Caraga are suspended. This was confirmed by Seaman 2nd class Rodel Astronomo of the PCG Western Bohol, based in Tagbilaran City.
Moreover, Astronomo ssid he has no idea until when the PCG’s order would last. The PCG order disallows the travel of LSIs among the regions of Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga.
Gatal in the interview said the focal person that coordinated with his son was unable to mention that LSI trips from Eastern Visayas to Central Visayas are not allowed.
He also asked why authorized persons outside residents (APOR) are allowed to travel to inter-region places and LSIs are not.
He also wants the focal persons handling the LSIs to properly communicate the PCG guidelines so that the LSIs would not get hassled and unnecessarily make travel plans only to be told by the PCG that no trips are allowed.
The radio program, Newsmakers, linked Gatal to Kevin Damalerio, the Capitol’s information head to help resolve the issue.
Damalerio in the same program said that the provincial government has nothing to do with the suspension of LSi trips.
Damalerio added that the PCG directive has been cascaded to the focal persons through a group chat in a messaging application. For this reason, Damalerio said, the focal persons are aware about the suspension of LSI trips.
On Friday, July 3, 2020, Gov. Arthur Yap said he has no idea why the PCG stopped the LSI trips and reiterated the province’s stand that he will allow LSIs to return to Bohol as long as the number if SLIs coming home is gradual and properly coordinated with the various local government units (LGUs).
In a follow-up telephone interview on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, Gatal told The Bohol Tribune that he already asked his son to return to where he was staying in Eastern Visayas and wait for the PCG to lift the directive. He also said that there is nothing people can do with the PCG’s order but to wait until the directive gets lifted by the proper authorities.