Guv eyes compromise on testing of LSIs

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

 

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. on Tuesday said he was willing to seek a compromise after the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) nixed the Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing as a requirement for the repatriation of Locally-Stranded Individuals (LSI) to the province.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Defensor confirmed he will be meeting with the DILG and regional inter-agency bodies to “look for good compromise”.

The governor said the mayors wanted greater restrictions, but he also quickly denied that this was a consensus of the mayors.

“[W]e want to level off, we are looking for good compromise because what we were considering here in the first place here is a higher level of quarantine procedures in placing quarantine and [RT-PCR testing]. We will look for a good balance. What our mayors want is for us to be stricter and that’s about right. I really can’t say [if this is a consensus], I can only say when they can gather, because we’re only getting individual feedback. I don’t know [the position of] each of them. You cannot get a conclusion if you [only] have five [mayors out of 43],” the governor said.

Defensor added that the said compromise should consider psychosocial aspects and the current resources of the province, among other things.

“We’ll see what will be best considering the psychosocial aspect of the matter, considering the resources that we are using, things like that. What we want is to level off with our mayors, the [national task forces], and the DILG, so we can get the best position and the best approach.”

He also said that in light of the DILG advisory, he was open to the idea of letting the LSIs continue their mandatory quarantine in facilities in their hometowns, or maybe even in their residences, but added that nothing was final.

“It’s possible that they could continue their quarantine here. We should start with the quarantine facilities first and we shouldn’t let them go just yet, but nothing is final there,” he said.

DILG Assistant Secretary Marcelo Morales issued an Advisory on August 25, 2020 enjoining heads of local government units (LGU) to allow LSI repatriations based only on their Medical Clearance Certificate and Travel Authority prior to departure.

The advisory also stated that RT-PCR testing should be done by the receiving LGU upon LSI arrival.

This was in contrast with Defensor’s Executive Order No. 128, as amended, which provided for the additional requirement of real-time RT-PCR test results before departure.

The governor in late August heeded the DILG’s advisory and allowed for the LSI repatriations despite his reservations.