DAVAO CITY – Barangay Lasang chairman Allan Simo-ag has assured that the A.L. Navarro Central Elementary School and National High School used as a patient care center by returning locally stranded individuals (LSIs) will undergo double disinfection once vacated.

This came after the remaining 79 LSIs comprising the second batch of beneficiaries of the national government’s Hatid Tulong program were sent home Saturday (August 15) after completing the 14-day quarantine in the said facility.

“Aside from the City Health Office (CHO), we will also conduct disinfection in the area especially in the classroom used by the LSIs,” Simo-ag told the Philippine News Agency on Saturday.

He said teachers are advised not to report to the school until after the disinfection is completed.

Simo-ag also thanked the residents in the barangay for their cooperation during the holding of the LSIs.

“At first they felt uncertainty upon knowing that the school will be used as a facility, but during the entire process, the response was however good as everybody cooperated,” he said.

Angel Sumagaysay, head of the city’s Public Safety Security and Command Center (PSSCC), said 63 of the 79 LSIs were ferried to their homes while the others arranged for their pickup from the patient care center.

On Tuesday (August 11), 85 LSIs or the first batch completed the 14-day quarantine in the said facility. The first batch of LSIs arrived on July 27 while the second batch arrived on July 31 from Luzon.

A 14-day quarantine is required for all arriving LSIs, returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) traveling from other cities and provinces in Luzon and Visayas to ensure they will not infect their loved ones with coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Simo-ag said should the city government need an additional facility to be used as part of the Covid-19 response, he will suggest the Alcantara property in Barangay Lasang which is now owned by the city government.

“One of the requirements for putting up a Covid facility is its accessibility. That property can be useful should they need one here in Lasang,” he said. (PNA)