One hundred seventeen residents, mostly fishermen, from Olango Island of Lapu-Lapu City have returned home after being stranded in Palawan. Mayor Junard ‘Ahong’ Chan said the returnees underwent swab and rapid anti-body tests to detect possible COVID-19 infection from them. | Photos courtesy of Mayor Junard ‘Ahong’ Chan
CEBU CITY, Philippines — One hundred seventeen individuals, mostly fisherfolks, who reside in Olango Island, have returned to their homes this Saturday, July 11, after they were stranded in Palawan in Luzon.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan announced this in a post on his official Facebook page today.
Chan said that the 117 stranded individuals were among the group of 400 fisherfolks who stayed in Palawan when lockdowns were imposed both in Visayas and Luzon.
“Kabahin sila sa 400 ka mga indibidwal nga na-stranded sa maong lugar ug tulo ka adlaw silang naglawig pabalik sa atong syudad (They are part of the 400 individuals who were stranded there and it took them three days to sail back here in our city),” Chan said.
Olango Island belongs to Lapu-Lapu City, and is located approximately five kilometers east of Mactan Island. The island’s inhabitants are mostly fisherfolks.
Chan also said the 117 people who arrived from Palawan underwent swab and rapid anti-body tests to determine if they had been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
“Ato usab sila gihatagan og mga impormasyon kung unsa ang angayng buhaton para magpabiling luwas gikan sa hulga sa COVID-19 (We also informed them about what appropriate actions to take to prevent from getting infected with COVID-19),” he added.
Lapu-Lapu City is currently under general community quarantine (GCQ). /dbs