Lacson to ask Cebu governor to allow LSIs to pass through Toledo

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Thursday said that he will ask Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia to allow Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) from the province to pass through Toledo City so they can return home.

Lacson said a family from Negros Occidental are presently stranded in Toledo as they were not allowed to board a sea vessel going to San Carlos City.

Lacson said he will write Garcia to allow Negrense LSIs to leave Cebu.

He said San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo already agreed to allow LSIs from Cebu to pass through his city.

“But we need to get permission from Cebu,” Lacson said.

Lacson said they are very careful in dealing with LSIs from Cebu as the latest COVID-19 case is a 38-year-old LSI from Cebu who went home to La Castellana town.

As to Negrense LSIs in Manila, Lacson said he will also ask airline companies with sweeper flights to accommodate those who already bought their tickets.

LSIs in Manila earlier complained that it is too costly for them to buy tickets for the sweeper flight when they already have booked their flights.

Lacson said he will continue to ask the national government to limit airline operations to sweeper flights.

He said that with sweeper flights for OFWs and LSIs, the provincial government is in control, especially on the number of passengers and their identities as well.

He lamented that with flights facilitated by the national agency, the only advice they get is “Be ready on short notice.”

As of latest count, Lacson said that from March 30 to June 10, repatriated OFWs totalled 949 while LSIs numbered 1,459.

Meanwhile, Lacson also said that it was agreed in a meeting of Western Visayas officials on Wednesday that inter-island travel through sea crafts will resume.

There is no need of a travel pass from place of origin, however, health protocols like physical distancing will be strictly observed.

“We have agreed to open the borders,” Lacson said.

As to borders between Negros Occidental and Oriental, the latter signified that they want it to remain closed in the meantime.

“We respect that,” Lacson said.