INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday urged local government units (LGUs) to allow repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to go on “home quarantine,” instead of isolating them in quarantine facilities anew.
In a radio interview, Año reiterated the these OFWs have already tested negative for COVID-19 and completed the 14-day mandatory quarantine in Metro Manila, prior to their return to their hometowns.
Some 24,000 OFWs, mostly overstaying in government quarantine facilities, began returning to their hometowns on Monday after President Duterte gave government agencies a week to bring them home. Duterte’s order was prompted by complaints from OFWs who have completed the quarantine but could not leave because they have not received results of COVID-19 tests and have not been issued quarantine certificates.
Some local governments want to subject the OFWs to another round of quarantine and tests.
Año said he understands if local chief executives would place the OFWs in local quarantine facilities, noting they are adopting their own protocols to prevent the spread of the virus in their areas.
Año said some LGUs fear the OFWs have been infected with the virus while in quarantine facilities in Metro Manila and while waiting for the result of their COVID test, or while in transit to their hometowns.
“So merong doubt na ganun. Allowed naman yung LGU na mag impose ng additional quarantine. (There are doubts like that. The LGUs are actually allowed to impose additional quarantine),” he said.
Año said there is a slim chance the OFWs, who are returning to their hometowns, were infected, citing the process they went through.
He said the best solution is “home quarantine” for the OFWs.
“We encourage all LGUs na home quarantine na lang yan… Home quarantine is good enough,” Año also said, noting the OFWs have invested in the construction of big houses, meaning the OFWs can isolate themselves in one room during the home quarantine.
As to OFWs who have small houses and have no spare room to isolate themselves, Año implied they have to stay in quarantine facilities.
Año said the OFWs should understand if they will have to spend more time at quarantine facilities in their hometowns, noting the COVID-19 crisis confronting the country and the whole world.
He said everybody wants to be “sure” nobody will be infected.
7,500 OFWS HOME
Two days since Duterte’s ultimatum, about 7,500 of of the 24,000 OFWs have been sent home to their families, said Hans Cacdac, administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
“We are hoping that the numbers will increase as we go into Day 3 of the seven-day period given to us by the President,” said Cacdac.
He said OWWA is booking more buses, ships, and flights to meet the deadline set by Duterte.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has ordered the designation of personnel from DOLE’s regional and attached agencies to beef up the manpower requirement of the OWWA.
Cacdac said OWWA has allocated some P700 million to provide the OFWs livelihood assistance.
The initial amount for the “Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay” program, he said, aims to provide assistance to 50,000 repatriated OFWs.
“We can further tap into the OWWA funds just to provide reintegration packages for the returning OFWs,” he said.
“Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay” program is a package of livelihood support/assistance intended to provide immediate relief to returning member-OFWs, amounting to a maximum of P20,000 as start-up or additional capital for their livelihood project.
300,000 MORE OFWS
As for OFWs still expected to return home, Cacdac said the estimate is 45,000 will be arriving next month.
In the long run, though, about 300,000 will be returning home for the entire year, Cacdac said echoing Año’s earlier estimate of 300,000 more OFWs who are returning after losing their jobs.
“Of course we are praying that it will not be the case, in terms of countries being able to recover immediately after this crisis,” said Cacdac.
“It’s a possible worst-case scenario of the negative effects of this crisis to host countries. This is where we are talking of hundreds of thousands returning home,” said Cacdac.
CASES
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said local officials who refused to accept returning OFWs may face administrative and criminal charges.
“The President has already given instructions to all LGUs to accept the 24, 000 returning OFWs to their hometowns. If LGU officials continue to defy this directive, they may be held administratively and criminally liable for violation of the Bayanihan law,” Guevarra said.
Guevarra said he has also instructed the National Prosecution Service headed by Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento to prioritize cases involving violations of the Bayanihan law. — With Gerard Naval and Ashzel Hachero
