A coronavirus task force official said the viral photos of thousands of locally-stranded individuals (LSIs) packed in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex “[do] not tell the entire story” of the incident. 

Hatid Tulong program lead convenor Joseph Encabo once again appealed for understanding on Monday, August 3, as he faced the House committee on good government and public accountability, which is currently looking into the plight of LSIs during the coronavirus pandemic. 

“A snapshot of the crowd in a baseball stadium does not tell the entire story at all. With my statement here, Mr Chair, allow me to fill in those missing frames so that the public and this committee will have the chance to appreciate how the technical working group implemented the program,” said Encabo. 

The Hatid Tulong official finally heeded lawmakers’ invitation to go to the House of Representatives on Monday after snubbing the first hearing on July 30. 

Over 2 weeks ago on July 24, some 8,400 LSIs found themselves packed inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Adriatico, Manila, with their sheer number making it impossible to practice physical distancing while waiting for the trips back to their home provinces.

Their photos inside the cramped baseball stadium sparked public concern as the country continues to record an unprecedented spike in COVID-19 cases. As of Sunday, August 2, the Philippines logged over 103,000 confirmed cases. 

President Rodrigo Duterte already reverted Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan under modified enhanced community quarantine from August 4 to 18 after medical professionals warned him that the country is on the brink of losing its battle against the pandemic.

Prior to attending the House hearing, Encabo already held a press briefing to admit they did fail to anticipate the huge number of LSIs they needed to bring home in late July.

While they made room for some 7,500 people, Encabo said there were many more “walk-ins,” leading to the crowding at the stadium. 

Still, Encabo said they decided to accommodate all of the LSIs who came to the sports complex instead of just leaving them out in the streets. 

On Monday, Encabo told lawmakers that the Hatid Tulong officials and the Manila Police District actually had a plan in place to facilitate physical distancing for the LSIs inside the stadium.

But a heavy rain derailed their plans.

“We have diagrams, we have designs of how the people will move coming from one point to another and upon entry to the stadium. But again, your honor, on an unavoidable circumstance, heavy rain poured during that time,” Encabo said. 

He said once the skies cleared, several of the LSIs were assisted by the police, military, and Philippine Coast Guard officers to transfer to an adjacent stadium within the same sports complex. 

“I know the photo was publicly disclosed. We were bashed, we were criticized… We may not be in the same boat, but we are in the same storm. In this time of crisis, we should help each other and heal as one,” Encabo said. 

All of the LSIs pictured in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex have since returned to their homes, after the last batch of 1,017 passengers boarded a ship en route to the Zamboanga Peninsula on August 30.

Still, 48 were left behind after their rapid tests yielded positive results for COVID-19. They are still in various quarantine facilities in Metro Manila while waiting for the results of their swab tests. 

The national government has already canceled its plan to require all LSIs to undergo a swab test before going back to their home provinces.

Instead, they have placed the burden of testing on local governments accepting the stranded individuals. – Rappler.com