Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda presides over a meeting with officials of national agencies and provincial chiefs of offices on the Balik Pinas, Balik Pampanga Program. Pampanga PIO
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda is set to implement the “Balik Pinas, Balik Pampanga Program” to fast track the processing of repatriated Kapampangan overseas Filipino workersand returning residents to their families after months ofbeing stranded across the globe.
This is in relation to Executive Order No. 114 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, “institutionalizing the ‘Balik Probinsya, Balik Pag-asa Program’ as a pillar of balanced regional development, creating a council therefor, and for other purposes.”
Pineda said this is his way of helping the national government in its goal of decongesting Metro Manila at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Since we also have our own PCR machine here in Pampanga, I am asking the national government if they can allow us to handle the Kapampangan overseas Filipinos and OFWs arriving in Metro Manila. Once they give us the go-signal, we will take, swab, and isolate our Kapampangan OFs and OFWs here in Pampanga,” he said.
JP Miranda, founder and chief executive officer of the Information Technology Business Solutions Corporation (ITBS Corp.), said that they are currently working on a mobile app called ‘Balik Pinas App’ designed to easily track the OFs and OFWs landing in Manila.
“With the initiative of Governor Delta, nag–prepare kami ng mobile application para sa mga Kapampangan, or para sa mga Filipino actually, but for now, ang target muna namin ay ang mga Kapampangan na nakatira rito sa Pampanga. Layon nitong mas mapabilis ang proseso. Nando’n pa lang sila sa abroad, malalaman na natin kung ilan ang darating na kababayan nating taga-Pampanga para maprepare ‘yung mga kakailanganing transportasyon at accommodation para sa quarantine facility,” said Miranda.
Pineda also asked for the patience and understanding of the OFs and OFWs in the midst of the pandemic.
“Habaan niyo pa po ang pasensya ninyo para sa national government. Sa big volume po natin, hindi natin masasabing magiging perfect kaagad ito, pero ginagawa po nila ang makakaya nila para mas mapadali ang proseso,” he said.
The governor already met on Wednesday with some officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, ITBS Corp., PhilHealth, provincial health office, public employment service office, management information systems, and provincial tourism office to iron out the details and plan for the Balik Pinas, Balik Pampanga Program.
Also present during the meeting were provincial board member Ananias Canlas, Jr., provincial administrator Atty. Charlie Chua, and provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer Angelina Blanco. –Jasmine D. Jaso/Pampanga PIO
