Vizcaya goes after illegal vans, LSIs

By Benjamin Moses M. Ebreo

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – Gov. Carlos Padilla has ordered Tuesday the Philippine National Police here to form a task force that will apprehend colorum car owners and operators transporting undocumented locally stranded individuals (LSIs) in towns in the province.

"Their activities pose a clear and present danger to the health security and wellness among Novo Vizcayanos and other provinces of the region," he said during the Provincial Covid-19 Task Force Tuesday.

Padilla said the task force which will be led by the PNP will include the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, PNP Highway Patrol Group among others.

The governor said a syndicate might be behind the entry of colorum vehicles that prey on undocumented LSIs wanting to come home in the province in exchange for hefty fees.

"I am sure that 90 percent of our problem in preventing the local transmission of Covid-19 in our province will be solved with strict activities and operations of this task force. It will also benefit other provinces and LGUs in Cagayan Valley region," Padilla added.

Dr. Edwin Galapon, provincial health officer said that as of this writing, the province has 7 active Covid-19 cases.

He said these cases came from an Overseas Filipino Worker in Alfonso Castaeda town and six others from barangay Kirang in Aritao who were exposed to an undocumented LSI.

Galapon said the patients are now under 14-day quarantine protocol at the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Hospital in Bambang town, Region 2 Trauma and Medical Center in Bayombong town and in a quarantine facility of the Alfonso Castaneda government. -- PIA Nueva Vizcaya