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| Photo from Facebook |
Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez on Monday could not help but
express his anger towards the national government agencies over the handling of
returning residents who availed the Balik Probinsya program.
In a Facebook post, Gomez said he received a text from the
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration (OWWA) informing them that there are three planes
arriving which they must accept.
He said, the returning folks were not even tested for coronavirus
and were also “undocumented”.
"DILG, NHA, OWWA, what happened to all the protocols
that you guys are trying to formulate for returning residents?!!!” the actor-turned-politician
said
“This morning the DILG regional office and OWWA texted,
“texted”, us informing us that there are 3 planes arriving in Tacloban and
telling us to receive them without following Covid protocols, undocumented and
untested. “ he said
Gomez also stressed how they kept their city COVID free for
more than 70 days because they imposed a very strict protocol.
“We have kept our city Covid-free for more than 70 days
because of strict border controls and the implementation of health protocols.
Then here comes a TEXT from the National government agencies telling us that
there are repatriates coming in our city and telling us to accept them?!” the Ormoc mayor said
“What happened to all the protocols that we’ve been working
on? What happened their protocols that they have been telling us to do if they
themselves are not doing the right thing?!” he added
“It only takes one infected person to get to our city to infect
a hundred innocent people bec of carelessness from the national government
agencies. Where is the National Task Force Covid Shield and the IATF in all of
these?!!!” Gomez continued
Meanwhile, when asked for reaction, DILG Secretary Eduardo
Año clarified that people being talked about were not part of the Balik
Probinsya program but are OFWs who wanted to go back home.
Año added that the said post must be validated first with
the mayor.
“And maybe he was misinformed and there are already many
official announcements on this,” Año said via Inquirer
This post from Gomez also elicited different reactions from
the netizens. Here are some:
“If they arrive in your city, Mayor Goma, then it's a fait
accompli imposed on you by the national agencies. We suggest you welcome them
like homecoming heroes, but assign a quarantine place just to be safe. Best to
you and Ormoc City”
“Gobyernong walang plano at hindi nagpaplano kung saan tayo
patutungo with this pandemic.”
“Then they will deny they sent a text! Unless on official
circular - LGU reply would be : Did not receive circular, & continue
whatever you have done to keep your province COVID19 Free. Mabuhay Goma”
“Mayor, thank you for
speaking up in behalf of all your frontliners nga nahasol sa ila system (or
lack thereof) sa national. Since last week naay muabot sa ato borders, usahay
kadlawn, without proper coordination. AND NO VALID DOCUMENTS.”
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