By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – The Regional Inter-Agency Task Force on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has approved the suspension of the repatriation of Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) and Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) to Victorias and San Carlos cities.
The resolution was signed by RIATF chief secretariat Christian Nagaynay and attested by RIATF Vice-Chair for Western Visayas and Department of Health Regional Director Marlyn Convocar.
The resolution said that Victorias City sent a letter to the RIATF and the Regional Task Force (RTF) dated Oct 13, 2020, requesting for a 7-day moratorium on ROF and LSI repatriations.
The moratorium from Oct 22-29 aims to decongest, disinfect, and prepare quarantine facilities for the new batch of incoming ROFs and LSIs.
The city of San Carlos also sent a letter dated Oct 18, 2020 to the Province of Negros Occidental, requesting for the assistance of the Provincial Incident Management Team (IMT) to endorse to the RIATF their request for a 14-day moratorium from Oct 22 to Nov 5.
The city then sent another letter dated Oct 21, 2020 to the RIATF seeking approval of the moratorium.
To recall, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease
(IATF-EID) Resolution No. 71 Series of 2020 delegates to the respective Regional Inter-Agency Task Forces the authority to approve requests for moratorium by LGUs under its jurisdiction, upon careful evaluation and deliberation.
