13,000 OFWs due home after completing tests, 14-day quarantine
Published May 20, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling
Around 13,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will soon be sent home after completing their coronavirus test and 14-day facility-based quarantine, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the repatriates are expected to be given health clearances and may leave the quarantine facilities to make room for other OFWs returning to the country.
The chief implementer of the government's coronavirus response, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier expressed concern that the arrival of 42,000 Filipino workers might overwhelm the country's quarantine centers. Galvez, in a briefing with President Duterte on Tuesday, said OFWs who tested negative will be immediately released to declog the hotels being used as quarantine centers.
As the coronavirus pandemic has forced many displaced OFWs to return home, the government required repatriates to undergo testing and facility-based quarantine for two weeks as precaution against the disease.
"In the same meeting, I was told by Secretary Galvez, there are now 13,000 results with certificates, meaning that the 13,000 individuals will soon be allowed to leave the quarantine facility," Roque said in an interview over ANC's Headstart program Wednesday.
"That's a major development because that's almost half of the total number of OFWs waiting," he said.
Roque, who recently offered to take action on the reported delay in the release of the test results of OFWs said they have come up with a mechanism to get regular updates on the release of repatriates from quarantine facilities.
"I promised in my last press briefing that I will take a personal hand in ensuring that OFWs don't have to stay longer than needed in these quarantine areas so they can go home. So, in my regular press briefings, I will also provide data on how many tests have come out and how many OFWs have been released," he said.
"It is important that by being provided these figures, the OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) particularly will be on guard to make sure the results are followed and the OFWs are released at the soonest time possible," he said.
Roque said the OFWs arriving in the country may reach 80,000 including the sea-based workers sailing home through ships docked in Manila.
"Talagang importante po na mapabilis iyong resulta dahil limitado naman iyong ating mga hotel rooms na pag-i-stay-han ng mga OFWs habang nag-aantay po sila ng PCR (polymerase chain reaction) results (It is really important to hasten the results because we have limited hotels rooms where the OFWs can stay while waiting for the PCR results),” he said in an interview over GMA’s Unang Hirit program.
In a meeting with President Duterte and some Cabinet members on the coronavirus response on Tuesday, Galvez expressed concern over the "huge problem" concerning the influx of repatriates and the country's quarantine accommodation.
More than 27,000 repatriates are currently staying in different quarantine centers in Metro Manila, he said. Thousands more OFWs are expected to return home in the coming weeks.
"Mr. President, I would like to inform you na malaki po ang problema po natin sa returning OFWs. Kasi po sa ngayon po, more than 27,000 na po ang nandito sa Manila. At mayroon pa pong darating na 42,000 this coming May and June. So, ma-o-overwhelm po ‘yung ating mga hotels (Mr. President, I would like to inform you that we have a huge problem about the returning OFWs. Because at present, more than 27,000 OFWs are here in Manila. We have another 47,000 arriving this coming May and June so our hotels will be overwhelmed)," he said.
To accommodate the next batch of repatriates, Galvez said Defense Secretary Defense Lorenzana has directed concerned authorities manning the quarantine sites to "immediately release OFWs who have tested negative." Lorenzana currently heads the National Task Force against the coronavirus.
Galvez also informed the President that around 30,000 OFWs have been tested with the help of the Philippine Red Cross.
Of the 22,432 results released, he said 465 were positive. If the repatriates were not tested, Galvez admitted that they could have posed a threat to their hometowns.
"Kung hindi po natin pini-CR (PCR) po ito, itong 465 po na ‘to, ito ang magiging parang second wave at kawawa po ang ating mga LGUs lalo na po ‘yung mga hindi --- at walang alam, at saka walang ano, walang PCR doon po sa area at saka wala pong facilities (If we didn't conduct the polymerase chain reaction test, the 465 may become the second wave and our local government units will suffer especially those who have no PCR in their area, who have no facilities)," he said.
"So ito po maganda pong ano ‘to dahil kasi nahuhuli po natin kung sino ‘yung mga nagiging positive (This is good because we are able to detect those who are positive)," he added.
He said Secretary Lorenzana is making sure the OFWs, especially those given health clearance, can finally return to their homes. "I believe more than 800 ngayon na ang pinapaano po sa barko ni DOTr (I believe more than 800 will take a ship offered by the Department of Transportation)," he said.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the repatriates are expected to be given health clearances and may leave the quarantine facilities to make room for other OFWs returning to the country.
The chief implementer of the government's coronavirus response, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier expressed concern that the arrival of 42,000 Filipino workers might overwhelm the country's quarantine centers. Galvez, in a briefing with President Duterte on Tuesday, said OFWs who tested negative will be immediately released to declog the hotels being used as quarantine centers.
As the coronavirus pandemic has forced many displaced OFWs to return home, the government required repatriates to undergo testing and facility-based quarantine for two weeks as precaution against the disease.
"In the same meeting, I was told by Secretary Galvez, there are now 13,000 results with certificates, meaning that the 13,000 individuals will soon be allowed to leave the quarantine facility," Roque said in an interview over ANC's Headstart program Wednesday.
"That's a major development because that's almost half of the total number of OFWs waiting," he said.
Roque, who recently offered to take action on the reported delay in the release of the test results of OFWs said they have come up with a mechanism to get regular updates on the release of repatriates from quarantine facilities.
"I promised in my last press briefing that I will take a personal hand in ensuring that OFWs don't have to stay longer than needed in these quarantine areas so they can go home. So, in my regular press briefings, I will also provide data on how many tests have come out and how many OFWs have been released," he said.
"It is important that by being provided these figures, the OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) particularly will be on guard to make sure the results are followed and the OFWs are released at the soonest time possible," he said.
Roque said the OFWs arriving in the country may reach 80,000 including the sea-based workers sailing home through ships docked in Manila.
"Talagang importante po na mapabilis iyong resulta dahil limitado naman iyong ating mga hotel rooms na pag-i-stay-han ng mga OFWs habang nag-aantay po sila ng PCR (polymerase chain reaction) results (It is really important to hasten the results because we have limited hotels rooms where the OFWs can stay while waiting for the PCR results),” he said in an interview over GMA’s Unang Hirit program.
In a meeting with President Duterte and some Cabinet members on the coronavirus response on Tuesday, Galvez expressed concern over the "huge problem" concerning the influx of repatriates and the country's quarantine accommodation.
More than 27,000 repatriates are currently staying in different quarantine centers in Metro Manila, he said. Thousands more OFWs are expected to return home in the coming weeks.
"Mr. President, I would like to inform you na malaki po ang problema po natin sa returning OFWs. Kasi po sa ngayon po, more than 27,000 na po ang nandito sa Manila. At mayroon pa pong darating na 42,000 this coming May and June. So, ma-o-overwhelm po ‘yung ating mga hotels (Mr. President, I would like to inform you that we have a huge problem about the returning OFWs. Because at present, more than 27,000 OFWs are here in Manila. We have another 47,000 arriving this coming May and June so our hotels will be overwhelmed)," he said.
To accommodate the next batch of repatriates, Galvez said Defense Secretary Defense Lorenzana has directed concerned authorities manning the quarantine sites to "immediately release OFWs who have tested negative." Lorenzana currently heads the National Task Force against the coronavirus.
Galvez also informed the President that around 30,000 OFWs have been tested with the help of the Philippine Red Cross.
Of the 22,432 results released, he said 465 were positive. If the repatriates were not tested, Galvez admitted that they could have posed a threat to their hometowns.
"Kung hindi po natin pini-CR (PCR) po ito, itong 465 po na ‘to, ito ang magiging parang second wave at kawawa po ang ating mga LGUs lalo na po ‘yung mga hindi --- at walang alam, at saka walang ano, walang PCR doon po sa area at saka wala pong facilities (If we didn't conduct the polymerase chain reaction test, the 465 may become the second wave and our local government units will suffer especially those who have no PCR in their area, who have no facilities)," he said.
"So ito po maganda pong ano ‘to dahil kasi nahuhuli po natin kung sino ‘yung mga nagiging positive (This is good because we are able to detect those who are positive)," he added.
He said Secretary Lorenzana is making sure the OFWs, especially those given health clearance, can finally return to their homes. "I believe more than 800 ngayon na ang pinapaano po sa barko ni DOTr (I believe more than 800 will take a ship offered by the Department of Transportation)," he said.