Provincial News

Provincial Government puts up ‘COVID-19 Sagip Palaweño’ to repatriate stranded Palaweños.

By Chris Barrientos

May 06, 2020

The provincial government of Palawan launched “COVID-19: Sagip Palaweño” in order to repatriate stranded Palaweños outside the province as well as the stranded passengers in Palawan, needing help to return to their hometowns.

This project is a call center which operates 12 hours from Monday to Sunday.

Sammy Magbanua, Executive Assistant IV said during an online press briefing Monday afternoon, that this project will focus on making the list for the repatriation of Palaweños affected by the lockdown outside the province.

Those who needs help will be asked basic personal information and some details in order to process their request.

“The way it’s being run is parang call center, mayroon po tayong nagma-man ng bawat numero na ‘yun kung saan naka-link po ito sa isang computer at may ginagamit na software na kung saan ‘yung kanila pong nakakausap ay i-encode nap o kaagad ‘yung mga detalye ng kanilang pinag-uusapan. ‘Yung pangalan, ano ba ang problema na idinudulog ng atin pong kababayan at iba pa pong detalye tulad ng contact number, saan sila nakatira dito sa Palawan, bakit sila na-stranded sa Maynila o kung saan sila naroroon at iba pang mga details,” Magbanua said during the online presser.

Aside from coordination on having sweeper or mercy flights, “COVID-19: Sagip Palaweño” will also cater those stranded passengers who needs provision of financial assistance until they are waiting to come home.

But Magbanua clarified that the process does not stop from just giving information and every call that the call center is receiving will be forwarded to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office for final verification.

He added that this is a must since there are few who are exploiting the situation and assistance from the provincial government.

“Sila po ‘yung may final verification dahil sa kasamaang palad, may mga kababayan din tayo na ilan na gusting magsamantala sa mga panahon na ganito. Since we are dealing with government funds, sani ni Gov [Alvarez] ay mag-ingat tayo that’s why kailangan talagang ma-verify ‘yan at there’s also some requirements that they need to submit bago po sila mapagkalooban ng kinakailangang tulong,” he added.

Magbanua also said that “COVID-19: Sagip Palaweño” is only dedicated to Palaweños stranded outside Palawan and there is a separate group handling cases of those individuals stranded within different municipalities in the province.

“Nag-decide po si Gov [Alvarez] na paghiwalayin dahil these are two different concerns, ‘yung outside of Palawan na mga Palaweños and ‘yung mga kababayan natin nan a-stranded lamang po sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng ating lalawigan,” Magbanua clarified.

As of the last count, “COVID-19: Sagip Palaweño” received and attended more than 200 calls and almost 200 text messages that needs to be attended.

Meanwhile, the hotline numbers of “COVID-19: Sagip Palaweño” are: 0935-515-7055; 0935-515-7056; 0935-515-7058; 0935-515-7060; 0935-515-7077; 0951-982-8753; 0946-567-7342; 0946-567-7108; 0951-982-8754; and 0951-982-8755.