Stranded workers, students safely return to Apayao

By Leilanie G. Adriano (Staff Reporter)

LAOAG CITY—Keziah Aguinaldo, a resident of Brgy. San Luis in Pudtol, Apayao and who is currently reviewing for the upcoming Pharmacy Licensure Examination at the Mariano Marcos State University was finally reunited with her family on the afternoon of May 20, 2020 after she was locked down in her boarding house at Brgy. Caunayan in Batac City for more than two months.

Ms. Aguinaldo is among the 27 stranded individuals from various parts of Ilocos Norte who were fetched by two government-owned shuttle buses from Apayao on May 20, 2020.

“I’m thankful for MMSU and the Apayao government for helping us go home,” she said as she held her bag and stepped on the bus to bring her home.

The local government unit of Apayao in coordination with the Ilocos Norte government facilitated the inter-province travel as public bus transport remains unavailable connecting both provinces as of the moment.

Joeffrey Borromeo, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer of Apayao said he is glad for both the provinces of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte for clearing the travel of the distressed workers and students.

To assist locally stranded individuals, Mr. Borromeo said they dispatched the Provincial Government of Apayao Covid-19 Task Force to fetch stranded residents of Apayao elsewhere in the country.

“This is now the third time that we fetched stranded workers and students in Ilocos Norte. We will call or search for more [stranded Apayao residents],” he said.

Prior to the entry of the at least 27 stranded Apayao residents at the assigned shuttle bus wherein they were placed one seat apart, they also had to pass through body temperature check-up and ensure that none of the passengers have COVID-19 symptoms.

Upon arrival to their home destinations, the stranded residents were endorsed to their respective local government units and they were again subjected to health check-ups by authorized health personnel.

“We endorsed them to the LGU where they are and quarantine protocols will be strictly monitored by the BHERT [Barangay Health Emergency Response Team],” said Mr. Borromeo.

The Apayao government is offering its free pick-up service to all its stranded residents if they need travel assistance.

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