Several private individuals, non-government and a local government unit sent in their donations for the hundreds of passengers stranded near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Reports said that around 200 stranded passengers “have resorted to sleeping under the trees and near the expressway after their flights were cancelled.”
These passengers reportedly refused to leave the area to be able to catch their next flight to Mindanao.
“Natutulog lang po kami dito, diyan, doon, tapos umuulan wala kaming masilungan. May ticket po kami kaso kinansel nila nang kinansel ng hindi namin alam,” passenger Mae Anne, who wants to fly back to Davao, told GMA News.
She lamented why they aren’t allowed to fly even if they have already complied with the government requirements.
Mae Ann said she underwent COVID-19 rapid test, secured travel authority, barangay certification and clearance.
On Wednesday afternoon, the same report from GMA News said that several personnel of Cebu Pacific already talked to the passengers and noted their flight details. They were also grouped according to their destination.
In view of this, concerned individuals, groups and the local government unit of Pasay City stepped up and separately organized donations for the stranded passengers.
More Locally Stranded Individuals are trooping to NAIA Terminal 3, choosing to stay under the NAIA Elevated Expressway just in case a special flight is organized. Private individuals, companies and NGOs have stepped up, distributing food and water to the stranded passengers. pic.twitter.com/mz3eM2tZfS
— Raffy Tima (@raffytima) June 11, 2020
On Friday, former Commission on Elections Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said he delivered food facks to the passengers.
Food delivery… DONE!
Happy Independence Day!
We need to ask ourselves the question:
“What does Philippine Independence Day mean to me?”
🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭— Gregorio Larrazabal® 🇵🇭 (@GoyYLarrazabal) June 12, 2020
Some online users on the other hand, called for donations for the stranded passengers and lamented that they don’t want to repeat the case of Michelle Silvertino, a single mother, who recently passed away at an overpass while waiting for a bus to Bicol for days.
I’ve been thinking a lot about these images of mostly women OFW who are stranded under the NAIA Expressway.
We were already stunned by the death of Michelle Silvertino who died waiting for a ride home to Bicol.
Should we wait until the same thing happens to them? pic.twitter.com/KQqRpBucCp
— FAKE TITA ACCOUNT (@thysz) June 11, 2020
Silvertino’s death raised concerns on lack of public transportation amid the community quarantine in place to curb COVID-19.
Writer-actor and spoken word artist Juan Miguel Severo took to Twitter to call for the aid needed by the stranded passengers.
He urged the public to donate halal food as most of the stranded passengers are Muslim.
Now that I have your attention, the stranded OFWs in NAIA need the following:
1. Hygiene packs (soap, shampoo, sanitary napkin, etc.)
2. Vitamin C
3. PortaletsIf you’re to send them food, please make sure it’s halal because most of the stranded are Muslim. 🙂
— Juan Miguel Severo 🏳️🌈 (@TheRainBro) June 11, 2020
Meanwhile, Twitter user @rednillas8 said his father wanted to hire four buses that will take the stranded passengers and drop them off all the way down to Mindanao.
My dad and I want to hire 4 buses that will take the people stranded near NAIA and drop them off all the way down to Mindanao.
If you know people who run / own buses, please let me know. We’ll “rent” the buses for around 5 days total so they can get back to Manila.
Please RT!
— red | #Oust230 #JunkItJonathan (@rednillas8) June 11, 2020
While overwhelming help was lodged for the passengers, Estrada questioned why the government is not helping them with transportation
“I found out many private groups are planning to help them with transportation (IKR PRIVATE AGAIN?? WHERE’S THE GOVT???) and that’s great. But can we help with their food? Water? Incredibly ironic they’re stranded across a freakin’ hotel and fast food outlets,” she said.
On Thursday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the stranded passengers will be assisted by the National Task Force on COVID-19 and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Latest reports said that the last batch of locally-stranded passengers were ferried out of NAIA Expressway to Villamor Elementary school for temporary shelter.
