MANILA – To prioritize the sending home of locally stranded persons, the government has temporarily postponed the implementation of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa project.
Program executive director Marcelino Escalada Jr. said they will shift the focus on sending home of overseas Filipino workers, construction workers, tourists, and students who were stranded in Metro Manila upon the orders of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“I decided as a matter of strategy na i-suspend muna ang ating rollouts for the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa to give way,” Escalada said during the Laging Handa virtual press conference on Thursday.
“This was a very clear instruction from President Rodrigo Duterte: Unahin munang pauwiin na ang ating mga kababayan na na stranded dito sa Maynila,” he added. “That is the arrangement right now.”
Escalada, who is also the general manager of the National Housing Authority, explained through the Hatid Tulong program, the government helps send locally stranded people home while public transportation remains limited.
“Ito ‘yung mga tao na walang bahay at tsaka walang enough capacity to finance their stay in Metro Manila,” Escalada said.
Escalada also said the implementation of the Balik Probinsiya program will resume once transportation is normalized and stranded individuals have been assisted.
“I foresee that in the next month, let’s say for example July, I think bababa na ang demand ng stranded and therefore [ang] Balik Probinsiya will now take our second rollouts by that time,” Escalada said.
The Balik Probinsya program has attracted thousands of applicants and has already facilitated the return of more than 100 individuals in Leyte.
President Duterte signed last month an executive order creating the Balik Probinsiya, Bagong Pag-asa Council, which will direct the implementation of the government initiative meant to decongest Metro Manila and promote countryside development./PN
