PRESIDENT Duterte on Monday night told local chief executives to allow overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to return to their homes after they have been cleared of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“Either sumunod kayo or I will impose it on you. Sumunod kayo sa magandang paraan o pipilitin ko na sumunod kayo which is actually, you know, I do not want to embarrass people (Either you follow or I will impose it on you. Follow I an orderly manner or ii will force you to follow which is actually, you know, I do not want to embarrass people,” he said in a public address
Duterte said he would use the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in ensuring that the local government officials follow.
Duterte called the attention of Iloilo City. He said he received reports that Mayor Jerry Treñas has refused entry to OFWs who came from abroad. He urged Treñas to follow guidelines of the national government as he reminded all local government officials that the Philippines continues to operate under a unitary presidential government and not a federal state.
He also reminded the public of the contributions of the OFWs especially to the economy, adding that “we do not want to repay them with this kind of behavior.”
He said local governments have no reason to bar the returning Filipinos especially those who have undergone quarantine and have been issued certifications saying they have completed the mandatory quarantine and tested negative for COVID-19.
“But to say that just, you cannot enter, even coming from abroad and even if staying there for already more than 14 days without anything happening to them, then the national government, listen local executives, the national government will insist that you accept the OFWs,” the President said.
Assistant Secretary Jonji Gonzales of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, said prior to the pronouncement of the President, the national government though their office and the National Task Force COVID-19 has been coordinating with the Treñas’ office and has reached an agreement with the latter, including the conduct of real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for COVID-19 on the OFWs before they return to the city.
This aims to prevent a repeat of incidents wherein OFWs who have been cleared from quarantine facilities in Manila, Cebu and other cities end up testing positive for COVID-19 when they arrive in Iloilo province.
He said prior to the arrangement, Treñas was quoted making unsavory remarks in social and mainstream media which had probably reached the President.
TESTS
Duterte had vowed to assist the overseas Filipinos who had returned or were repatriated back to the country to return to their home towns.
National Task Force COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has been taking care of the OFWs upon their return from abroad.
Galvez said some OFWs are staying either in quarantine facilities like ships or hotels for the mandatory quarantine period and undergo testing for COVID-19 after their return to the country and after completing their quarantine, and are assisted in returning to their provinces.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said problems about local government units (LGUs) refusing entry to returning Filipino workers have been settled.
Año said the issue was resolved even before Duterte’s outburst on Monday night against LGUs that are not allowing OFWs to return to their hometowns.
Año acknowledged that the cities of Iloilo, Bacolod and Davao have refused to accept returning OFWs to prevent transmission of COVID-19 in their areas. He said he understood that these LGUs were not 100 percent sure these workers are not infected with the virus.
Año said the LGUs have been given the assurance that the OFWs underwent quarantine, were tested, and found free of the virus, thus they agreed to welcome the overseas workers.
He said the receiving LGUs have the option to subject the returning OFWs to another COVID-19 test and quarantine.
SEAFARERS
The Bureau of immigration said 4,599 seafarers are expected to disembark from 14 cruise ships currently at the Manila Port by May 17 after undergoing quarantine.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the cruise ships came from Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and Japan.
The BI said seafarers from cruise and cargo ships, and other types of
vessels are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine. After that, the Bureau
of Quarantine will check seafarers for symptoms of COVID-19.
Immigration officers will conduct an inspection once the ship and its passengers are cleared by the BOQ,” Morente said.
He said the disembarking seafarers will also be assessed and checked
by personnel of the Bureau of Quarantine.
“We ensure that no shore passes are given to passengers and to other
foreign nationals. Only Filipino crew and repatriated foreign seafarers are allowed to disembark, but only upon health clearance by the BOQ,” he said.
Morente also said the BI expects eight other cruise ships and three other vessels to arrive within the week. — With Victor Reyes and Ashzel Hachero
