Bontoc, Mountain Province – Seventy-nine Ifontok residents who are Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) in Baguio City and La Trinidad, Benguet were able to come home to Bontoc, Mountain Province and will soon be united with their families after they will complete their 14-day quarantine period.
The 79 returning Ifontok residents were provided with free transportation aboard five Bontoc –LGU chartered buses on June 5, 2020, under the last batch of Oplan Suma-ar of Bontoc, a localized version of the Balik Probinsya of the national government. Of the total, 75 are adults and four are children.
The LSIs were accommodated in the last batch of Oplan Suma-ar after registration in the link posted in the Municipality of Bontoc Facebook Page and after having confirmed their presence during their travel date.
Also, they had agreed to undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine at the LGU Quarantine Facilities or LGU Quarantine Facilities or LGU-identified Quarantine Facilities inspected and assessed by the Rural Health Unit (RHU) and/ or Barangay Health Stations (BHS).
Their families agreed to provide their food rations during the quarantine period, and comply with the protocols.
The Bontoc LGU strictly complied with the protocols and processes in assisting its LSIs with proper coordination with the Municipal Government of La Trinidad and City Government of Baguio.
They were required to secure Medical Certificates/ Health Certificates from the Local Health Unit of their point of origin and Travel Authorities from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Similar with the two previous implementations of Oplan Suma-ar, the Bontoc LGU set two pick-up points, one at the Benguet State University (BSU) Parking Area at Km.6, La Trinidad, Benguet to cater to LSIs in La Trinidad; and the other at the D’ Rising Sun Transportation Terminal at the Slaughter Compound, Baguio City to cater to LSIs in Baguio City.
Upon arrival in Bontoc, the LSIs were triaged at the basement of Bontoc Municipal Capitol by the staff of the RHU before they were escorted and ferried to the LGU Quarantine Facilities and/ or LGU-identified Quarantine Facilities.
Aside from this, the RHU staff administered the test to the LSIs using the Rapid Test Kits of which the results came negative.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey expressed his gratitude to different offices, agencies, individuals, and other stakeholders for the realization of the last batch of Oplan Suma-ar for Ifontok residents stranded in La Trinidad and Baguio City.
Odsey thanked the La Trinidad Municipal Government under the leadership of Mayor Romeo Salda; the City Government of Baguio under the leadership of Mayor Benjamin Magalong; the Baguio City Police Office, Benguet State University headed by BSU President Feliciano Calora, Jr.; and the D’ Rising Sun Transportation System Incorporated management, drivers, conductors, and staff.
The Bontoc LGU Team who escorted and assisted the LSIs coming home to Bontoc, Mountain Province were Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Lourdes Claire Peel, Municipal Legal Officer Seichi Ofo-ob, Administrative Officer IV Ross Kiat-ong, Nurse II Oliver Gacusana, Nurse I Achilles Feckleng, Jr., Feliciano Vergara, Jr., and Roy Bawiyan.
By Alpine L. Killa
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