Davao City – Long flights and road travels could be stressful now — with all the arrival health protocols at all entry and exit points to Davao City under the coronavirus pandemic.
But returning Dabawenyos and people traveling to Davao City have noticed the process that the local government has implemented to ensure that their return is orderly, comfortable, and safe for everyone.
Dawn Garbosa a Locally Stranded Individual (LSI) who arrived in Davao City from Cebu on July 31, lauded the system established at the airport.
“Upon arrival at the airport, I was amazed because all of the personnel are in full PPE and there were signages put up all over. Forms for contact tracing were also immediately made available,” she said.
She added that social distancing was strictly implemented for arriving passengers.
The city government has deployed teams from the City Health Office (CHO) and the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) to assist passengers in the procedure.
After a swab test for Covid-19, passengers are guided to the holding area where they wait for their test results. Dawn was impressed by the way they were handled at the quarters — with available beds and food made available for them.
Another Dabawenyo, Gino Marco Duduaco, who was also stranded in Cebu, also expressed his appreciation of Davao City’s protocols upon arrival.
On his Facebook post, he noted how they were treated well when they arrived in Davao.
“May magwe-welcome na sobrang nakakagaan ng feeling at kakamustahin ka pa at nakiki-emphathise sabay sabi ‘lipay mi kay nakauli na gyud ka. Sige lang, safe na ka diri’ (They welcomed us warmly, asked how we were and they empathized with us, telling us they are happy seeing us coming home safely)
He was also impressed by how Davao City treated non-Davao LSIs.
Dawn was thankful she tested negative of COVID-19. The City Government provided LSIs like her transportation. She was also reminded to undergo a 14-day home quarantine, which she strictly follower.
“We were given a form upon release that we need to present to the barangay so they can monitor me for 14 days,” she said.
A barangay health worker constantly checked her during the entire period of the quarantine.
Dawn expressed her gratitude to the City of Davao, especially the frontliners, for taking care of the returning residents.
“I am so proud of our process and for our LSIs because I felt that we are loved by our city and our Mayor Inday Sara – I salute. I also salute our personnel because their job is tiring, but still, they serve us with a smile on their faces,” she said.
“It gives me sense of pride to know it can happen. That, it is possible to do well for the good of the Filipinos,” she said. (City Information Office)