Stranded individuals urged not to go to NAIA without confirmed flights

The Philippine Army (PA) on Sunday pleaded to locally stranded individuals (LSIs) not to go to the airport if they have no confirmed flights yet as military facilities used as their temporary shelters are quickly filling up.

Col. Ramon Zagala, Army spokesman, said there are 364 LSIs being accommodated in military facilities at present.

The Army has offered its gymnasium, hospital, and some parts of the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) in Taguig City to shelter the LSIs.

This, after reports surfaced that some of them were left with no option but to stay under the shade of trees or below Sales Bridge near Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for several days while waiting for their flights.

“Right now, we are catering to 364 LSIs but we are already reaching full capacity since there are more individuals arriving in our facilities than those leaving,” Zagala said in a radio interview over dzBB.

The Army has been coordinating with various airlines to expedite the confirmation of the flight details of the LSIs and send them back to their home provinces in Visayas and Mindanao.

On Sunday alone, Zagala said 34 LSIs were released and flown to their homes but 133 more LSIs have added to the list of individuals they are processing.

“Right now, we’re still okay but we are asking our kababayans to refrain from going to the airport if your flights are not yet confirmed to avoid overcrowding and possible infections,” Zagala said.

“Our purpose in accommodating the LSIs is to keep everybody safe and ensure social distancing is being observed,” he noted.

“For our kababayans who are very eager to travel, ensure first the date of your flights and coordinate with your airlines so we won’t pick you up later on, and risk our facilities of being filled up,” he stated.

The Army has also coordinated with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to ensure that the LSIs being sheltered in military facilities are free from coronavirus disease (COVID-19).