Bohol mayors meet to craft unified OFW, LSI, APOR acceptance protocols 

League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Bohol chapter president Marrieta Sumaylo reveals that some Bohol mayors will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, to discuss unified guidelines to govern the acceptance of locally stranded individuals (LSI), overseas Filipino workers (OFW), and authorized persons outside residence (APOR) as the provincial government has allowed the local government units (LGU) to craft their own rules in accepting returning/visiting Boholanos.

Sumaylo made the announcement in a radio interview on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020 over Open Forum hosted by Ardy Batoy and Dave Albarado.

Sumaylo said that there are some mayors who are members of the LMP who will meet with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial director Jerome Gonzales and experts to craft unified guidelines.

On Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, during the regular Bohol mayors’ meeting, it was revealed by the provincial government it will no longer impose rules on the acceptance of LSI, OFW, and APOR, and will let the LGU craft the acceptance rules.

However, the mayors who were in attendance during the said meeting agreed to have unified guidelines that will be implemented by all LGUs in Bohol.

Gov. Arthur Yap is set to let the LGU decide on the acceptance guidelines via an executive order, supposedly taking effect by Dec. 1, 2020.

Several rules such as the liquor ban and the general quarantine among others have been lifted. This now allows the LGU to set their own rules following the governor’s issuance of Executive Order no. 52 signed on Nov. 13, 2020, Friday.

Meantime, Sumaylo said her town will continue accepting returning Boholanos and APOR during the Christmas season.

She added that only one (1) school will be used as the quarantine facility for returning Boholanos and APOR. The mayor said that with the declining number of returning Boholanos and APOR arriving, the Dauis LGU can afford to maintain a quarantine facility in Tinago Elementary School and another facility located in the vicinity of the old town hall in the poblacion.