Tubungan facilitates return of stranded family

By Lilibeth A. French

The local government unit of Tubungan facilitated the return of a family stuck in the town for more than a month amid the ongoing enhanced community quarantine in the province of Iloilo.

Emelyn Estando-Tano, head of the Tubungan Public Employment Service Office, said a family of seven, sought their help after they were caught in the province-wide lockdown and left with no more money to buy their needs.

The Gallego family from Jayobo village in Lambunao are laborers in a local resort, which was undergoing improvement. The owners of the resort were also stranded in Manila.

A village official in Ingay, Tubungan took sheltered the family while generous residents sustained their needs.

Tano said the Tubungan municipal government coordinated with Lambunao which allowed the workers to return provided they undergo the required 14-day quarantine period and other health protocols.

On May 3, the workers were fetched by the members of the Lambunao Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office at the town’s border. A vehicle from the 61st Infantry Batallion of the Philippine Army transported the family who were issued quarantine passes issued by Tubungan.

Lambunao Municipal Risk Reduction and Management Officer Albert Galan said the workers are now quarantined at Jayobo Barangay Health Center, the village’s designated isolation center for COVID 19, and under strict monitoring by the Barangay Health Emergency Response Team.

Galan said each worker was given food packs containing five kilograms of rice, assorted canned goods and noodles.

Tano said Tubungan also provided the family with relief goods.

She said tears simply rolled down on the face of the mother when she saw the military truck on Sunday.

“She was so happy that they can go home already and grateful for the hospitality of the people who welcomed and took care of them as well as those who facilitated their return,” Tano said. (PIA)