Students in Metro Manila who were unable to go home to their families in the province during the enhanced community quarantine can sign up for the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Hatid Estudyante Program, which aims to return students safely to their hometowns and provinces.

The program was proposed to the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID). While waiting for approval, DOTr is currently collecting the data of stranded students. The students can apply through this Google Form which will help the DOTr determine the number of ferries needed and the locations they will be transported to.

According to DOTr Asec. Eymard Eje in an interview with UNTV, they will deploy all public transportation methods for this program: air, maritime and land travel.

As a first step to the process, students must send the necessary information including their personal contact information, school ID, current location and destination. DOTr is also requesting a health declaration, which you can obtain from a checkup with your doctor, to prove that they have not been infected with COVID-19. Parental consent for minors are also needed.

“Let us take care of the stranded students and bring them home through air, land and sea travel,” said DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade in a press release. “Intindihin natin ang hirap kung tayo ang nasa kalagayan nila.”

For more information, contact the DOTr Emergency Operations Center through the contact numbers found in this link.

Header photo courtesy of Willamor Magbanua Inquirer.net

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