Antique guv laments ‘lack of coordination’ on LSI travel freeze

ILOILO City – Gov. Rhodora Cadiao of Antique expressed dismay over the alleged failure of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to coordinate the 14-day suspension on the return of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) in Western Visayas.

“Gusto ko ipama-an sa IATF nga pamangkot anay kamo [antes] maghimu sang resolution nga gusto ninyo dumilian. Kami dira sa Antique we can fairly manage our LSIs,” Cadiao said in a radio interview over Aksyon Radyo Iloilo this Thursday.

The IATF-EID, according to Cadiao, could have suspended first the implementation of its Resolution No. 69, which sets a moratorium on LSI trips in Region 6.

There is clearly no coordination from chief executives of various local government units in the region, Cadiao pointed out.

“Can you imagine the IATF made a sweeping resolution nga ginasiraduhan ang Region 6 sa LSIs,” a baffled Cadiao said.

With the IATF’s latest directive, Cadiao added that many LSIs from Antique supposedly heading home were stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila and Batangas Port.

“You know frustrated na gid ako kay tani after six months of quarantine there are already other provinces that has already gone new normal pareho sang Antique, Aklan, Capiz, and Guimaras,” Cadiao stressed.

The governor said she understands why the IATF is focusing in the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod, citing recent surge of local coronavirus disease 2019 cases there.

“Dapat ang aton IATF indi lang pagbuligan ang aton utod nga probinsya ukon syudad nga madamo ang cases kundi buligan man nila ang probinsya nga gusto mag-new normal na para sa ekonomiya sang amon nga probinsya,” added Cadiao.

She further said: “Dapat kon maghimu sila sang resolution indi tani sweeping. Dapat antes maghimu sang resolution intindihon nila ang kanya-kanyang dynamic sang iban nga probinsya.”

As of Wednesday, Sept. 9, Antique has 51 total confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Of the 51, 34 are indigenous infections and 17 are cases among LSIs, authorized person outside residence and repatriated overseas Filipinos./PN