MORE ‘STRANDED’ RESCUED

COTABATO CITY – Another batch of 261 residents of North Cotabato has been “rescued” by “Task Force (TF) Sagip Stranded North Cotabateños” from areas outside the province.

Miniessa Famulagan, speaking for TF Sagip, said they facilitated the return of 261 individuals, including returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and locally stranded individuals (LSIs).

They were picked up by the task force in Davao, General Santos City, and Cagayan de Oro City.

Famulagan said all those coming in from other provinces have to be subjected to health protocols, including the 14-day quarantine that is recommended by health front-liners,

“It is tedious but we need to ensure that those coming home or passing by are safe and free of Covid-19,” she said. Also on Friday, six OFWs were fetched by TF Sagip from General Santos City airport.

To date, a total of 896 “stranded” individuals have been “rescued” out of the more than 4,000 North Cotabateños who registered for help.

Meanwhile, North Cotabato Board Member Philbert Malaluan, speaking for the provincial inter-agency task force on coronavirus disease 2019, apologized for some delays in the homecoming of the province’s OFWs due to uncertainties in flight arrivals.

Malaluan also assured his returning province mates of ample food supply, decent accommodation, and emergency responders on standby.

(Photo courtesy of North Cotabato PIO) HELP OUT. Members of “Task Force Sagip Stranded North Cotabateños” assist persons “rescued” from other areas as they arrive in the holding area in Barangay Balatukan, Makilala, North Cotabato on Friday (May 29, 202) for documentation, health, and quarantine procedures. A total of 896 returning migrant workers and other locally stranded individuals have been accommodated and guided so far by the task force.