NANAWAGAN kahapon si Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy S. Co sa pamahalaan na payagan na ang muling pagbiyahe ng mga provincial bus upang maiuwi ang mga na-stranded na Filipino.
Sa isang statement, hiniling ni Co sa Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), sa Departments of Health, Transportation at Interior and Local Government at sa iba’t ibang local government units na bumuo ng unified guidelines para sa kagyat na pagbabalik-operasyon ng mga provincial bus.
“Without public transportation, thousands of Filipinos and overseas workers can’t return home and join their families in the provinces. Aside from congestion and higher risk of infection, inability to return home is a primary cause of depression and anxiety especially for OFWs,” wika ni Co.
“With all due respect, the national government and LGUs must discuss, agree and lay down clearcut guidelines for bus operators and commuters. The goal is to allow stranded Filipinos to ride provincial buses while minimizing risks of potential COVID-19 infection,” dagdag pa niya.
Tinukoy ang kanyang personal na karanasan sa pag-uwi sa stranded construction workers at Bicolano students mula sa UP Los Banos, sinabi ni Co na ang nasabing pagsisikap ay nangangailangan ng koordinasyon sa pagitan ng national at ng local government agencies. “It’s difficult, but not impossible,” pagbibigay-diin niya.
Dahil sa kawalan ng public transportation, sinabi ng kongresista na ilang Filipino workers ang namamatay na hindi nila nakikita ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay.
“It doesn’t have to be this way. I’m sure we can all agree on a set of clear, systematic and non-redundant guidelines. We owe it to our kababayans,” aniya.
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