A total of 309 Kapampangans returning from abroad have benefitted from the “Balik Pinas, Balik Pampanga” program since it was launched by the Pampanga provincial government on June 30.
Governor Dennis Pineda, together with program chief implementer Angelina Blanco and provincial tourism officer Jay Luna, met recently 35 returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) assisted by the program.
The 35 are now part of the 227 ROFs already sent home after undergoing a three-day quarantine at the New Clark City and testing negative for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests.
The ROFs are required to undergo home quarantine for 11 more days.
The other 82 program recipients were still under quarantine at the New Clark City.
“They have experienced a lot of hardships and this is the simplest thing that we can do to somehow ease their sufferings.”
“Rest assured that we will do our best to serve the Kapampangans. We all know the big sacrifices of our ROFs who worked far from their loved ones. They have experienced a lot of hardships and this is the simplest thing that we can do to somehow ease their sufferings,” Pineda said.
Rodel Carlos, one of the RFOs, thanked the provincial officials for assisting them through the program.
“Dakal pung salamat (Thank you very much),” Carlos said.
The provincial government launched the “Balik Pinas, Balik Pampanga” Citizen’s App to assist all Kapampangans returning from abroad.
The mobile phone app will serve as a tool in updating the provincial government beforehand on the number of ROFs who will arrive in Metro Manila and eventually in the province, thus expediting the process of return and determining the kind of assistance needed by the returnees upon their arrival.
Kapampangans abroad may go to the www.balikpampanga.ph website and download the app.
To register, Kapampangans abroad may go to the www.balikpampanga.ph website and download the app.
Upon signing up, they would receive a one-time-password (OTP) that would be sent through their e-mail. They may then log in with their username and OTP, complete the documents needed, and wait for the QR code and reference number that would also be sent through e-mail. This means the application has been approved.
Only ROFs who registered at least 10 days before their scheduled flight would be accommodated.