Review of Hatid Tulong program sought
SEN. SEN Christopher Ch i h Lawrence L “B “Bong” ” Go urged the Executive branch to review the implementation of the Hatid Tulong program to ensure that local government units will accept their returning constituents.
“Since Hatid Tulong is a directive from the President, it is important to make sure that proper health and safety protocols are in place in order to avoid the spread of Covid- 19. Proper coordination must also be conducted to make sure that receiving LGUs are willing and ready to accept their constituents,” Go said.
He urged the Inter- Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases ( IATF- EID) to look into unauthorized travels and unsanctioned initiatives reportedly conducted by various LGUs and groups that do not comply with health protocols.
“D “Dapathigpitandahildelikado hi i d hil d lik d makahawaito.Unahinnatinang kalusuganngbawatPilipino.Kahit community
quarantine measures saiilanglugar, higpitanparinponatinangmga patakarannakaugnayngpagbyahe patungo sa mga probinsyapara maiwasananglalongpagkalatng
sakit (It has to be strict because this is contagious. Let’s prioritize the health of every Filipino. While the community quarantine measures were eased in some areas, we still need to be strict when it comes to the implementation of the guidelines for the travel to the provinces in order to avoid the further spread of the disease),” he said.
The senator clarified that ‘ Hatid Tulong’ is different from the ‘ Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag- asa’ ( BP2) program of the government.
The BP2 Program was suspended to
make k way f for the h HHatid Hatid idT Tulongl Tulong iinitiativesi initiatives i i which assist stranded nded overseas Filipino workers and locally ally stranded individuals indiat (LSIs).
Go said that the BP2 Program will resume once LGUs are ready to accept ept beneficiaries.
“Babalikan an po natin ito kapag apag pwede nang a n g mag-rollout at maaasikaso na ng LGUs ang g lahat (ng nais s bumalik) ( We e will return to this once the concerned LGUs are already ady preept prepared to accept all the returnees),” ),” he explained. Javier avier Joe Ismael