Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso announced on Tuesday, Jan. 18, that overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and Returning Overseas Filipino (ROFs) who will test positive for COVID-19 upon their arrival in the country are welcome to stay at the Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital (MCFH).
“Access is available to them anytime. Just tell the BOQ ‘wag na kayo dalhin sa hotel (not to bring you to hotels anymore). You can request. Hanggang kaya, tutulong kami (As long as we can, we will help),” Domagoso said.
The Manila mayor said the accommodation for the OFWs and ROFs will be free of charge so that their savings will not go to hotel expenses.
“Welcome kayo sa Maynila. We are offering the said services for free, Komportable, walang tosgas. Me aircon, maayos na hospital beds, doctors, nurses food oxygen, gamot, wifi at may libre chicha pa three times a day. Para nang sa ganun, ‘yung naipon ninyong pera, di na masusugatan pa at maiuuwi ninyo nang buong-buo sa inyong tahanan (You are all welcome in Manila. We are offering the said services for free. Comfortable, no need to spend money, it has aircons, proper hospital beds, doctors, nurses food oxygen, medicine, wifi, and there are free meals three times a day. That way, the money you have saved will not be spent and you will be able to take it home in full),” he said.
“Kung ano ang itinanim, siyang aanihin. Ito ay paglingon sa mga tumulong sa amin sa kasagsagan ng aberya nung 2020. So, ito man lang ay maisukli sa OFWs and returnees (What you sow, you reap. This is a form of payback to those who helped us at the height of the crisis in 2020),” the mayor said.
According to Domagoso, countless immigrants and OFWs sent cash donations at the height of the pandemic in 2020.
He assured that he and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna have been making sure that every single centavo that goes into the coffers of the local government is being spent wisely and for the benefit of the greater majority.
“Wala man kaming magawa sa impeksyon, meron naman tayong magagawa para mabuhay ang tao. Basta kami ni Vice Mayor Honey ay pipilitin naming lagi na maging masinop, mainam at episyente (We may not be able to stop the spread of the virus but we can do something to save our people's lives. Vice Mayor Honey and I will work prudently and efficiently for all of you,” he added, saying all they ask for in return is for the public to get vaccinated and continue practicing the basic health protocols to avoid the transmission of the virus.
He assured those who will avail of the free accommodation that the said field hospital headed by Dr. Arlene Dominguez as its director is comfortable and the patients do not have to spend a single centavo until they are fully cured.
Domagoso bared that the city government had been receiving requests from OFWs and ROFs for a free accommodation, saying they do not want a good portion of their savings going to hotel expenses alone.
On Dec. 31 last year, at least 104 ROFs who tested positive for COVID-19 were admitted at the MCFH. Only 105 out of the total of 344 beds in the hospital are occupied unlike a week ago when the occupancy rate was at 93 percent.