By Joseph B.A. Marzan
Department of Interior and Local Government-Region 6 (DILG-6) OIC-Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero on Monday clarified that the repatriation of Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI) to their hometowns is not part of the Duterte administration’s signature ‘Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa’ program.
In a press conference, Ingeniero said that the management of LSI repatriations are governed by the National Task Force on COVID-19 (NTF) Memorandum Order No. 2020-02.
He added that there should be clearer guidelines on the matter in the future.
This, after Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. on Friday expressed his confusion over governing rules on LSI repatriations.
The DILG-6 already issued a statement on Sunday in its Facebook page clarifying the separation of the two programs.
It was in response to an article by Bombo Radyo Philippines mentioning the Balik Probinsya program as the “mother of LSI repatriations.”
“Locally Stranded Individuals [are] foreign nationals or Filipino citizens, for example, construction or domestic workers, tourists, students, among others, in a specific locality within the Philippines who have expressed intention to return to their place of residence and home. With our observation, this has been in several IATF meetings, and there are pending guidelines defining the LSI. I cannot give them yet, because it is not yet signed,” Ingeniero said.
The director said that the confusion between LSI repatriation and the ‘Balik Probinsya’ program may have been due to the “vague” definition of the “LSI” term.
The ‘Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa’ program was institutionalized on May 6, 2020 via Executive Order No. 114 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
This program is being blamed by netizens as the source of the surge of cases in many regions of the country.
“Because of the observation made by the media and us, there were Orocan and cabinets [being brought], it seems that [they were stranded] for more than four months. As we know, if you were ‘stranded’, [it would be] by the time that the [Enhanced Community Quarantine] was declared, March 16, up to now, that should be the period. But because of the definition, seemingly the ‘Balik Probinsya’ would be included,” the director said.
He explained that Balik Probinsya is a long-term program by the government to help those who wish to return to their hometowns after a long absence.
“The definition of ‘Balik Probinsya’ is that [if you’ve been away] for a long time, if you want to go home, the State will provide you [assistance], but provided that the [Local Government Unit] is prepared. The ‘Balik Probinsya’ program is a strategic long-term program wherein the LGU prepares socio-economic [programs]. That’s the difference [between LSI repatriations] and the program,” he said.
According to Ingeniero, once the new definition of “LSI” will come out, their observations will likely change as well.
He added that guidelines may also likely change along with the new definition, based on the experiences of the LGUs.
“The definition of ‘LSI’ will more likely change. I just don’t want to [pre-empt] things because nothing has been final yet, but the definition will likely change. I think [the numbers will minimize] because our observations will also minimize [when the new definition comes out], because the LGUs are starting to profile all the LSIs in their barangays. Even the processes will more likely change. The national government is listening to the LGUs,” he said.
