CALOOCAN CITY, July 5 (PIA) --The mass send-off of Locally-Stranded Individuals will continue today, 05 July 2020, for LSIs going to Luzon and Visayas destinations.

Yesterday, thousands of LSIs bound for different parts of Mindanao have been assisted and ferried back to their home provinces, as various government agencies, including the Department of Transportation (DOTr), conducted a grand send-off at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade joined Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and other key officials of different government agencies in a short ceremony, wherein they waived at the stranded individuals upon their departure, as their distant gesture to wish them well.

Around 4,000 LSIs have been targeted to be sent-off by land and sea at the end of the day through the Hatid Tulong Program.

For those traveling by land, the DOTr, through the Philippine National Railways (PNR), in cooperation with the Department of Energy (DOE), provided free fuel for participating bus units. These buses have been given up to 200 liters of free fuel, depending on their destinations. On the first day of mass send-off, ninety-one (91) buses bound for Cagayan de Oro, Davao City, and Tacurong City have been enlisted for the fuel provision.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel also help in inspecting bus units and assisting to the needs of the stranded individuals.

For its part, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) issued waiver of port charges and fees for vessels transporting the LSIs. Passengers were likewise allowed to travel free of charge.

To ensure health and safety, the IATF protocols have been strictly followed, such as the required conduct of rapid testing and issuance of travel authority before boarding sea vessels and buses. (DOTr/PIA-NCR)