The government has promised to arrange "sweeper flights" for students stranded in Metro Manila during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, an official said on Saturday.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año was referring to students originating in the provinces who are studying in the NCR.

"Mayroon na tayong ginawang arrangement d'yan. Nagkaroon na tayo ng mga sweeper flights," Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in an interview on DZMM.

Since the incoming school year is expected to be pushed to August or September, Año said government will be allowing the stranded students to fly back to their home provinces.

"Kawawa rin naman ang ating mga estudyanteng naipit sa Manila, gustong umuwi ng probinsya so mayroon tayong mga sweeper flights para doon," he said.

However, the flights will have to be done in coordination with local government units, which are expected to control the influx of people flying out of the NCR, considered the country's COVID-19 epicenter.

"Dapat tatanggapin sila ng mga governors at mayors. Sila naman ay galing sa Metro Manila, naka-lockdown naman tayo, ibig sabihin nakapag-quarantine sila," said Año.

"Pero pwede pa rin natin silang itest pagdating doon o, kung kaya naman, gusto ng local chief executives ay ilagay sila sa 14-day quarantine pwede pa rin naman iyon."