Mayor Edgardo Labella on Wednesday issued guidelines on the release of financial assistance to locally stranded individuals (LSI) who have signified their intention to go back to their respective towns and cities.

Labella’s order came a month after Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, also Cebu overseer for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response, requested the city government to trace LSIs here and provide for mechanisms to help them return to their respective places.

“We can provide PHP5,000 financial assistance to the LSI. Many of these LSIs are from our neighboring towns, cities, and provinces of Cebu,” Labella said.

In the guidelines released Wednesday, each LSI will receive “up to maximum of PHP5,000, depending on the assessment of the DSWS (Department of Social Welfare and Services)” of the city government.

Subject to the assessment of city social workers, LSIs who are availing the Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the city and will go back to their respective places through land, sea and air travel, will receive cash aid in three categories.

Those who are travelling from the capital city to the northern and southern part of Cebu province will get PHP1,000 to PHP1,500 while those who are travelling from the city to any other areas in the Visayas will receive PHP1,500 to PHP3,000.

Cebu City-based LSIs who will return home to Luzon or Mindanao are qualified to receive PHP3,000 to PHP5,000.

The financial aid from the city government can be availed only once.

To avail of the benefits under the AICS program of the city, applicants are required to present their government-issued identification (ID) that reflects the LSI’s hometown address, travel authority issued by the Philippine National Police Covid Shield and certification from the barangay where the LSI is currently residing.

“Incomplete documents will not be entertained,” the guidelines stated.

The city government encouraged the LSIs to file their applications by sending it, together with the required documents in PDF format, to project.spgarcia@gmail.com. Walk-ins, according to the guidelines, will not be entertained.

Once an applicant has completed the submission, he/she will receive an email of his/her scheduled interview and assessment at the DSWS Office located across Labangon Elementary School, Katipunan Street, Barangay Labangon.

After assessment, applicants who are deemed qualified to receive the financial assistance will receive an email confirming their inclusion to the program as well as the date for the release of such aid. The cash assistance will be released “only on scheduled date”.

The Cebu City Hall has listed over 15,000 LSIs who are stuck in the city after losing their jobs as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. (PNA)