The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) on Tuesday said the surge of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases in the country prompted them to push for swab test as a requirement for returning locally stranded individuals (LSI) and overseas Filipino workers (OFW).

LPP chair and Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. stressed they pushed for this noting provinces with previous zero COVID-19 cases have an upsurge following the return of the LSI and OFW going to their respective turfs.
Velasco in an interview over GMA News noted that they have no other recourse but to have the LSis and OFWs undergo rapid tests and 14-day quarantine procedures as precautionary measures.
With this scenario, Velasco revealed a large chunk of the receiving LGUs budget will definitely be affected as the rapid test costs at least P700.
Emphasizing his stance further, Velasco said only barangay clerks and not certified health workers are issuing medical certificates and travel authorities to the LSIs.
Velasco said the LPP already presented their position to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).