Leyte welcomed over 100 people who have decided to return to the province under the “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa” (BP2) program.

Leyte Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said this was the first batch of Leyteños, composed of 111 individuals from 85 families, that benefited from the pilot implementation of the government program.

“The province of Leyte is ready and willing to welcome returning residents,” he said. “Leyte is the province for Leyteños, it will always be the sanctuary for Leyteños, Covid or no Covid threat.”

Five busloads of returning Leytenos arrived at Candahug, Palo and were subjected to the protocol of disinfection, swab testing and documentation.

They were endorsed to 31 local government units where they originally came from.

The returning Leytenos, part of 3,371 applicants from that province, were issued transportation and financial allowances and other forms of government assistance.

The BP2 program seeks to decongest Metro Manila through reverse migration. (Jojo Mangahis)