The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has ordered the lifting of the policy that requires overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to wear full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during their departure in the country's airports.
The order of DMW Sec. Susan "Toots" Ople is contained in the advisory issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) dated September 23.
Ople who is in United Nations General Assembly attendance in New York clarified that the POEA did not require the use of PPEs for departing OFWs.
"I agree with the sentiments of Senator Pia Cayetano and other legislators that the PPE requirement for departing OFWs is outdated, misguided, and oppressive," said Ople.
DMW Undersecretary for Licensing and Adjudication Bernard P. Olalia, also the concurrent POEA Officer-in-Charge, issued Advisory No. 62 series 2022, reminding all recruitment agencies to stop requiring OFWs to wear PPEs as a requirement for travel to their host countries.
“With the easing of regulations on both domestic and international travel, and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF)’s promulgation of policies for the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, such as the voluntary wearing of face masks outdoors and the downgrading of most areas to the lowest alert levels, the POEA reiterates that requirements on the deployment and travel of OFWs must also be relaxed,” Olalia said.
There are some companies, however, which require the wearing of PPEs and masks for Filipino, like in those bound for Japan and that of a Chinese shipping vessel that requires its local manning agency to supply PPEs to the boarding Filipino crews to prevent infection during travel, with the cost of the PPEs shouldered by the employer.
However, the DMW is firm not to require OFWs to use PPEs upon their departure.
"The DMW firmly believes that having vaccines plus booster shots and wearing face masks provide sufficient protection to our overseas workers. Until otherwise recommended by our health officials, the POEA advisory against the mandatory wearing of PPEs for our OFWs by their respective recruitment and manning agencies shall remain in force," Ople asserted.
Countries easing protocols
Meanwhile, Secretary Ople noted that other countries such as the United States, have relaxed their health protocols for all travelers including OFWs and other foreign workers.
Airlines in the US only require travelers to present vaccination certificates before entering their borders.
In Taiwan, Ople uttered that the easing of health protocols has led to a shorter quarantine period and they already stopped requiring OFWs arriving there to wear PPEs.
"Asking our OFWs to wear PPEs at this time is like asking surfers to wear ballgowns - it's cumbersome, awkward, and extremely peculiar. In short, OA na masyado (It’s obvious over reacting)," Ople said.
DMW acknowledges Sen. Cayetano
The DMW also thanked Senator Pia Cayetano for divulging the unwarranted use of PPEs for departing OFWs.
Secretary Ople said without Cayetano’s indulgence, they would not even have realized the absurd protocol.
“I regret not having issued this order much earlier, to spare our OFWs the discomfort of going to the airport in full PPE attire,” Ople confessed.
In her privileged speech, the lady senator called the attention of the Senate and the DMW to photos scattered on Instagram showing OFWs in full PPE while checking in for departure at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
“Madam President, I have two photos to show. One I just grabbed from the Instagram account of Sam YG . It's a better photo than mine, which is why I showed it first. And I'll just share my photo as well. That's mine ,” Cayetano said in a press statement.
“Your honor, I'd like to point out that they are in complete PPE, including the footsies that you only see in operating rooms. It's like the height of ridiculousness that you have to wear those footsies because they are walking around the whole airport where thousands of people enter, walk around every day, so there is nothing hygienic about being in footsies, as opposed to being in their regular rubber shoes or walking shoes,” the lady senator added.