TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Eight locally stranded individuals (LSI) arrived home on July 27 through the Hatid Tulong program of government.
From the Rizal Memorial Stadium where the LSIs were assembled, the i-Kalingas along with other LSIs from the Cordillera and Cagayan Valley were transported by Partas buses to their home provinces.
Five members of a family were dropped off at the Cagayan Sports Coliseum in Tuguegarao City while three others got off at Abbut, Quezon, Isabela where they were fetched by vehicles of the provincial government and brought to Pinukpuk.
The Jarabejo couple with their three children arrived with all their possessions after deciding to leave Dasmariñas, Cavite where they resided for six years.
Loida Jarabelo is an elementary teacher at a private school but she resigned after the no-work no-pay rule in private employment was implemented. Raul is a construction worker whose job was affected by the lockdown due to the Covid-19.
Loida expressed her family’s gratitude to the government for safely bringing them home. She said they applied for the Hatid Tulong in May and were just accommodated last month because of the tedious processing of requirements.
Loida said she plans to engage in micro entrepreneurship if she finds capital.
On the other hand, Klimer Baluyan, Reden Madayag, and Ismael Allon were applying in the Armed Forces of the Philippines for work when they were locked down in Taguig City. They learned about the program through a friend.
“We have no food, no more money. Everything was exhausted during the quarantine period. We are lucky to be included in the Hatid Tulong program,” said Baluyan.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development gave each LSI food packs and hygiene kit.
The eight LSIs are the second batch of stranded individuals brought home to Kalinga under the Hatid Tulong Program. – Peter A. Balocnit
April 25, 2024
