AUTHORITIES will limit the number of arriving overseas Filipino workers and Filipinos stranded overseas after Friday when a week-long suspension of inbound flights ends.
From May 9 to 11, only about 400 to 500 arrivals per day will be allowed “to decongest quarantine facilities,” retired Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla, spokesman of the National Task Force against COVID-19, said on Wednesday.
From May 12-18, the number will be increased to 500 to 700 per day, or four flights a day, “and then after that we’ll ramp up, slowly going up,” he said.
Prior to the suspension of inbound flights on Sunday last week, the average number of arrivals of sea-based and land-based OFWs and Filipinos stranded overseas was 1,000 to 2,000 a day, Padilla said.
The suspension of all incoming international flights until May 9 was aimed at giving government enough time to decongest quarantine facilities for repatriated OFWs, while also ensuring that those arriving will be well taken care of when they come home.
Padilla said the restriction starting May 9 covers all airports in the country although he said the preferred entry for these passengers is the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City.
During the “Laging Handa” briefing, chief implementer Carlito Galvez of the National Action Plan against COVID-19 said 23,480 land-based and sea-based OFWs are currently under quarantine and awaiting results of COVID-19 test.
He also said 44,724 OFWs are due to arrive the country this month and next month.
Galvez said they are limiting the arrivals because hotels and other accommodations in Metro Manila are almost full, and so they can “ably manage” the passengers. He said a bigger group of around 30,000 arriving passengers would be difficult to “control.”
Galvez also disclosed that a recent COVID-19 test conducted on 2,100 OFWs showed 19 of them were infected with the virus.
Some 25,000 OFWs and Filipinos from overseas are in Metro Manila under quarantine since arriving from abroad.
The government has set up four “mega swabbing centers” — at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Enderun Colleges in Taguig City, and the Palacio de Maynila Tent on Roxas Boulevard in Manila.
There are also four quarantine facilities — Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Philippine International Convention Center, World Trade Center, Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Quezon Institute, and Las Piñas Rehabilitation Center, all in Metro Manila, and the New Clark City National Government Administrative Center in Tarlac.
Hans Leo Cacdac, administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, said of the 25,000 OFWs and Filipino from abroad, 18,000 are ready for testing at “mega swabbing testing centers,” said
These, he said, are OFWs that have already completed their 14-day quarantine period.
“We have to apologize to the around 7,000 still in different OWWA facilities. They really have to wait their turn in the swabbing,” said Cacdac.
As for those who will be cleared from COVID-19, he expressed hope there will be no more problems in their return to their home provinces.
“The tests conducted on them will use the gold standard kits. As far as we know, it is respected by local government units. So once the OFW is cleared from the swab tests, they should be able to go home already,” said Cacdac.
`VERY DANGEROUS’
A number of OFWs who were cleared to go home to their families after undergoing the mandatory 14-day quarantine still tested positive for the novel coronavirus, League of Cities president and Bacolod City mayor Evelio Leonardia said on Wednesday at the public briefing “Laging Handa.”
Calling the situation “very dangerous,” Leonardia appealed to all national government agencies to reevaluate the screening process to ensure that land- and sea-based OFWs and seafarers would not take home the infection to their families and communities.
He said re-testing operations carried out by different local government units turned up several COVID-19 positive cases. There were four out of 28 in Bacolod City, nine of 35 in Iloilo, and two out of 35 in Negros Occidental.
“We would like to appeal to the national agencies to see to it that those that are sent to the provinces are really clear of the COVID and at the same time, we area insisting that once they come, we have to institute our own health protocols,” he said.
He said the city government is placing the positive cases under another 14-day quarantine at the local government’s own expense.
He appealed for understanding and patience from the OFWs and their families for the additional delay in their reunion.
“We will not allow quarantine in their own homes because that is very impractical. That is very dangerous. And we would also oblige them to undergo another swabbing … before we could send them home …we have to make sure that they are really free from COVID,” Leonardia said.
He said he has brought the matter directly to Galvez’ attention.
Asked how the LGUs can contribute to the national action plan of the government to address the COVID-19 pandemic and the attendant problems of controlling the spread of infection, Leonardia said the provinces, cities and municipalities are in the best position to facilitate the implementation of any plan of the government.
He pointed out that LGUs already have the structures in place in all regions of the country and their officials are used to coordinating downwards to the people and upwards to national government agencies.
“I believe that the LGUs have the structure that could facilitate the implementation of whatever plans national government has. This is massive, this is all over and this is the mechanism or the structure through which the national government can effectively and efficiently implement all plans. We believe that the LGUs are the best shot of the national government is so far as implementing the national plans,” he added.
PHILSPORTS ARENA
The PNP will manage the Philippine Sports Arena quarantine area in Pasig City which was converted by the Department of Public Works and Highways for such purpose.
It is the second such facility to be managed and operated by the PNP Health Service, said PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa.
Gamboa, at the turnover of the facility, said three teams of select members of the PNP Health Service will oversee and lead the operations of the quarantine area which can accommodate 132 mild and asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 patients.
He said the teams will be composed of 36 PNP Health service personnel — six physicians, nine nurses, and 21 members of the Medical Reserve Force.
He said each team will work on a weekly alternate basis and will be made to undergo a 14-day quarantine after their duty. He said members of a team will be tested for COVID-19 before they will be allowed to return to work.
The conversion of the Philsports Arena into a quarantine center was finished last April 21.
Aside from the Philsports Arena, the PNP is also managing a quarantine facility at the Philippine International Convention in Pasay City.
The quarantine sites at the World Trade Center in Pasay City is being managed by the Armed Forces while the Rizal Coliseum is managed both by the PNP and AFP. — With Gerard Naval, Peter Tabingo, and Raymond Africa
