This guide is for those stranded individuals who wish to go home to their respective cities and provinces. As announced by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya on May 23, these individuals will only need to secure two documents: a medical certificate and a travel authority. Moreover, the National Task Force Against COVID-19 has provided guidelines under Memorandum No. 2020-02, signed by Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.  

Who are the Locally Stranded Individuals?

According to the memorandum, LSIs are defined as “foreign nationals or Filipino citizens in a specific locality within the Philippines who have expressed intention to return to their place of residence/home origin.” This includes the following:

• Filipino local workers
• Students
• Local or foreign tourists
• Individuals stranded in various localities while in transit
• Other stranded individuals

 

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  Returning residents must have undergone 14-day quarantine before going home, and that they are not contacted, suspect, probable, or confirmed COVID-19 cases. If the LSI is a COVID-19 recovery patient, they must have two negative results via RT-PCR tests. Note: The local government until then will have to coordinate with their regional task force, and should not deny the entry of LSIs who have completed their requirements.  

Process Flow for the LSI

The medical certificate shall be requested by the local stranded individual (LSI) from its respective barangay health office. The infographics below will further explain the step-by-step for the outgoing LSI: STEP 1. LSI shall first notify and report to the appropriate Barangay via LSI desk where he/she is stranded; STEP 2. Barangay personnel or BHERTS will then require the LSI to undergo and complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine; STEP 3. After the 14-day quarantine, the LSI will go to the Barangay Health Center, where he/she is currently residing, for the issuance of the Medical Clearance Certificate. The Barangay Health Center will then process the necessary travel documents of the LSI at the local office of the Philippine National Police (PNP), in coordination with the local government unit. The receiving LGU will also be notified regarding the arrival of the eligible LSI; STEP 4. In the meantime, the LSI will only have to wait for the approval and claim their approved travel documents from the Barangay.   Note: The Medical clearance certificate is FREE of charge.  

For those who are going home to Cagayan de Oro City, you might also want to check this article: Process flow for returning residents/OFWs in Cagayan de Oro City

 

More step-by-step infographics in Bisaya