Photo Courtesy: Omnia B. Olama, OIC Chief/FMRED of DA-BFAR XIII 

In line with the Balik Probinsya Program of the government amidst COVID-19, 17 residents of Buenavista, Agusan del Norte have disembarked from the DA-BFAR Multi-Mission Offshore Vessel (MMOV) 5001, today, May 29, 2020 at Nasipit Port, Agusan del Norte. An order dated May 26 was issued by Undersecretary for Fisheries and BFAR National Director, Commodore Eduardo B. Gongona, for at least two MMOVs to receive and provide assistance and other logistic needs to certain individuals availing the said Balik Probinsya Program supported by Secretary William D. Dar of the Department of Agriculture. The passengers were construction workers stranded in Pampanga. They were transported from Manila via DA-BFAR’s MMOV 5001 (Lapu-lapu) last Tuesday, May 26, 2020. Upon disembarking, proper protocols such as checking of passengers’ body temperature, documents, and disinfection of baggage were conducted. The DA-BFAR Caraga, thru the directive of Regional Director Visa Tan-Dimerin sent the Fisheries Resource Protection Group spearheaded by the Fisheries Management Regulatory and Enforcement Division (FMRED) Chief Omnia Olama, to assist the arrival of the MMOV. Likewise, BFAR XIII has arranged two (2) L300 vehicles for the transport of the passengers, but luckily, they were fetched and accommodated by the rescue vehicles of LGUs Buenavista and Nasipit and of the Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte. Prior to the arrival of the DA-BFAR MMOV in Nasipit Port, BFAR along with agencies such as the Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine National Police, LGU Buenavista, Rural Health Unit of LGU Nasipit, and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of Agusan del Norte were properly coordinated for the orderly and fast disembarkation of the said passengers to avoid unnecessary exposures to the community. The 17 LSI will undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine at Buenavista East Central Elementary School.