The newest and biggest transport ship of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) returned to Manila after sending more than a hundred of locally stranded individuals back to their provinces in southern Philippines.
Commodore Armando Balilo, PCG spokesman, said after transporting the locally stranded individuals in Davao and General Santos City, BRP Gabriela Silang arrived at Pier 15 in South Harbor around 6:30 am Monday.
“The personnel of PCG from Mindanao was ferried by BRP Gabriela Silang to augment the PCG’s Task Force Bayanihan deployed at airports and seaports,” he said.
BRP Gabriela Silang transported a total of 148 locally stranded individuals, with 59 from General Santos City and 89 were from Davao City.
Balilo said the crew of BRP Gabriela Silang are preparing to assist locally stranded individuals going to Visayas and Mindanao.
“The PCG is set to coordinate with the Task Group LSIs for the next batch of LSIs that will be transported by the ship,” he said.
However, the PCG is urging locally stranded individuals not to go directly to the PCG headquarters because there procedures they must comply with before they will be accomodated.
“We are asking the locally stranded individuals not to directly go here at the headquarters of PCG because there are locally stranded individuals who were listed and need to undergo (COVID-19) testing before they will be allowed to board the ship,” he said. Robina Asido/DMS