Malacañang on Tuesday admitted there were shortcomings in the “Hatid Tulong” program after photos of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) seen cramming inside Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila went viral on social media.
In a virtual Palace briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it was clear there was a lack of physical distancing being implemented in the stadium.
“I would be blind to say that there were no shortcomings there. There were shortcomings there,” he said.
Roque said he would personally speak to Hatid Tulong Executive Director and Assistant Secretary Joseph Joy Encabo to ensure these issues were addressed.
He echoed the suggestion of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to set up separate venues for LSIs who would be sent home based on their region.
“Perhaps we can make it by region so people would not be cramming inside and there would be social distancing while waiting for a bus ride,” he said.
In a related development, the number of LSIs at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex whose rapid tests have produced positive results for the coronavirus disease 2019 have climbed to more than 20 on Tuesday.
According to Manny Vargas’ report on Super Radyo dzBB, Hatid Tulong program lead convenor Joseph Encabo said they were expecting a further rise in positive results rapid testing continues.
He said the LSIs who tested positive were brought to isolation centers and subjected to confirmatory swab tests.
To date, an estimated 2,000 LSIs were still at the Rizal Memorial stadium waiting for trips back to their home provinces, according to Año.
He said the national government was eyeing to finish transporting the remaining LSIs by Thursday.
Over 4,000 LSIs staying at the stadium were already transported to various provinces, he said.
Local government units (LGUs) with departing and returning LSIs are encouraged to support the Hatid Tulong program, he added.
The Hatid Tulong program is a short-term humanitarian effort to assist LSIs, repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and other affected Filipinos in Metro Manila due to travel restrictions imposed during the quarantine period to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Metro Manila is currently under general community quarantine (GCQ) until July 31.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said it was looking at the possibility of setting up separate venues for LSIs who would be sent home based on their region.
In a radio interview, Año said this was to avoid cramming and congestion of LSIs in one place.
"For the next programs like these, there should be different venues for different regions so there won't be congestion. If we have five destination regions, we will prepare five sites so they won't flock together," Año said.
He added this proposal would be implemented in the next round of the "Hatid Tulong".
He also directed all LGUs to coordinate with their respective Regional Task Forces and their sub-task units, prior to the sending or receiving of LSIs.
Receiving LGUs must also allow passage to transported LSIs arriving in their area of jurisdiction, provided that they possess a medical clearance certification and travel authority. Villaseñor said that the receiving LGUs are given the liberty to conduct polymerase chain reaction test in accordance with local health protocols.
Año also directed the LGUs to prepare for the arrival of the LSIs such as transportation, reception team, isolation and quarantine facilities, provision of basic, medical, and sanitary needs of the LSIs while on quarantine, if needed.