337 repatriated OFWs sent home in 3 days
Published Jun 9, 2020 12:00 am
By Martin Sadongdong
A total of 337 repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from Barbados were finally allowed to go back to their home provinces and cities on Tuesday after they had completed their processing within three days.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr. (Screenshot / RTVM / PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Action Plan (NAP) on coronavirus disease (COVID-19), said the repatriates were part of a team of 345 seafarers working for the Royal Carribean Cruise Ship who arrived last Saturday, June 6. Eight other workers were still waiting for their COVID-19 test results.
In total, around 600 OFWs who were repatriated over the weekend have been sent home within a three-day processing time. A total of 262 OFWs from Dubai also arrived last Friday, June 5, and most of them were already escorted back home on Monday, June 8, Galvez said.
"We are so happy dahil three days nagawa namin. 'Yan ang target na ibinigay ni Secretary Delfin Lorenzana na recommendation ng DOTr (We are so happy because we did it in three days. That is the target given by Secretary Delfin Lorenzana based on the recommendation of the DOTr )," Galvez said. Lorenzana is the chairman of the NAP COVID-19.
Of the more than 600 repatriates, four workers have so far tested positive for COVID-19, Galvez added, and they were immediately isolated in quarantine facilities.
Meanwhile, Vince Dizon, NAP COVID-19 deputy chief implementer, said the automated system that was put in place by the government helped in fast-tracking the quarantine procedures for the repatriated OFWs.
Included in the three-day processing time were the release of the results of the workers' COVID-19 tests, which was accomplished in less than 24 hours; and the distribution of medical clearance certificates by the Bureau of Quarantine.
The three-day processing time of the OFWs was far better compared to the ordeal experienced by the 24,000 OFWs who were stuck for one month in Manila in May. This incident prompted President Duterte to instruct the NAP team to prioritize the arrival of the OFWs who were affected by the pandemic.
Galvez explained that the one-month ordeal was due to the fact that the system for testing in Metro Manila was simply unable to handle the large volume of repatriated workers, Galvex explained.
According to Galvez, this prompted Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to operationalize the Clark International Airport and decongest the inbound passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Aside from Clark International Airport, the Mactan International Airport in Cebu has also been opened while airports in Zamboanga, General Santos City, Davao and Iloilo will soon be operational.
Dizon, who was designated as the T3 czar, said the government is already capable of conducting 40,000 tests per day through 54 testing laboratories that were accredited by the DOH.
Read more:Â PH can now conduct over 40,000 COVID-19 tests per day
T3 refers to "Test, Trace, Treat" which is a government approach to identify, isolate, and provide medication to infected patients through targeted testing of suspected cases. This is being done by the government in partnership with the private sector.
Among the most recent projects of the T3 program include the expansion of its scope through the help of top conglomerates by launching a "SeroSurveillance Campaign" in all the cities in the National Capital Region and hotspot areas in CALABARZON (Cavite Laguna Batangas, Rizal, Quezon or Region 4A).
This means that there would be an "expanded community testing with much more proactive testing of high risk asymptomatics," and implementation of a "more unified and robust centralized system" for the management of COVID-19 data among others.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said 114 more laboratories were applying to be additional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing centers.
According to Galvez, the OFWs no longer underwent the mandatory 14-day quarantine period since the local government units (LGUs) where the repatriates will be escorted already have their own health protocols for ensuring their safe return into their hometowns.
He advised local chief executives to be extra vigilant against the sudden spike of infections as he recognized the reported cases where an OFW who tested negative upon arrival, tested positive when re-checked at the LGU level.
Concerns were also raised as to the employment opportunities for the repatriates as some of them left their jobs abroad to come home out of fear of the pandemic.
Galvez said the OFWs "should not worry" because the national government will provide them with the necessary assistance to help them get back on their feet.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said several manning agencies from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have already prepared the workers' reemployment.
The problem lies on the re-employment of the land-based OFWs, such as caregivers and house helpers among others, whose contracts were terminated by their employers, Bello admitted.
"Pero may progam ang OWWA natin na reintegration program so may immediate cash assistance, livelihood assistance, education assistance (But the OWWA will give them immediate cash, livelihood, and education assistance under its reintegration program)," he assured the workers.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr. (Screenshot / RTVM / PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Action Plan (NAP) on coronavirus disease (COVID-19), said the repatriates were part of a team of 345 seafarers working for the Royal Carribean Cruise Ship who arrived last Saturday, June 6. Eight other workers were still waiting for their COVID-19 test results.
In total, around 600 OFWs who were repatriated over the weekend have been sent home within a three-day processing time. A total of 262 OFWs from Dubai also arrived last Friday, June 5, and most of them were already escorted back home on Monday, June 8, Galvez said.
"We are so happy dahil three days nagawa namin. 'Yan ang target na ibinigay ni Secretary Delfin Lorenzana na recommendation ng DOTr (We are so happy because we did it in three days. That is the target given by Secretary Delfin Lorenzana based on the recommendation of the DOTr )," Galvez said. Lorenzana is the chairman of the NAP COVID-19.
Of the more than 600 repatriates, four workers have so far tested positive for COVID-19, Galvez added, and they were immediately isolated in quarantine facilities.
Meanwhile, Vince Dizon, NAP COVID-19 deputy chief implementer, said the automated system that was put in place by the government helped in fast-tracking the quarantine procedures for the repatriated OFWs.
Included in the three-day processing time were the release of the results of the workers' COVID-19 tests, which was accomplished in less than 24 hours; and the distribution of medical clearance certificates by the Bureau of Quarantine.
The three-day processing time of the OFWs was far better compared to the ordeal experienced by the 24,000 OFWs who were stuck for one month in Manila in May. This incident prompted President Duterte to instruct the NAP team to prioritize the arrival of the OFWs who were affected by the pandemic.
Galvez explained that the one-month ordeal was due to the fact that the system for testing in Metro Manila was simply unable to handle the large volume of repatriated workers, Galvex explained.
According to Galvez, this prompted Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to operationalize the Clark International Airport and decongest the inbound passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Aside from Clark International Airport, the Mactan International Airport in Cebu has also been opened while airports in Zamboanga, General Santos City, Davao and Iloilo will soon be operational.
Dizon, who was designated as the T3 czar, said the government is already capable of conducting 40,000 tests per day through 54 testing laboratories that were accredited by the DOH.
Read more:Â PH can now conduct over 40,000 COVID-19 tests per day
T3 refers to "Test, Trace, Treat" which is a government approach to identify, isolate, and provide medication to infected patients through targeted testing of suspected cases. This is being done by the government in partnership with the private sector.
Among the most recent projects of the T3 program include the expansion of its scope through the help of top conglomerates by launching a "SeroSurveillance Campaign" in all the cities in the National Capital Region and hotspot areas in CALABARZON (Cavite Laguna Batangas, Rizal, Quezon or Region 4A).
This means that there would be an "expanded community testing with much more proactive testing of high risk asymptomatics," and implementation of a "more unified and robust centralized system" for the management of COVID-19 data among others.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque said 114 more laboratories were applying to be additional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing centers.
According to Galvez, the OFWs no longer underwent the mandatory 14-day quarantine period since the local government units (LGUs) where the repatriates will be escorted already have their own health protocols for ensuring their safe return into their hometowns.
He advised local chief executives to be extra vigilant against the sudden spike of infections as he recognized the reported cases where an OFW who tested negative upon arrival, tested positive when re-checked at the LGU level.
Concerns were also raised as to the employment opportunities for the repatriates as some of them left their jobs abroad to come home out of fear of the pandemic.
Galvez said the OFWs "should not worry" because the national government will provide them with the necessary assistance to help them get back on their feet.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said several manning agencies from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have already prepared the workers' reemployment.
The problem lies on the re-employment of the land-based OFWs, such as caregivers and house helpers among others, whose contracts were terminated by their employers, Bello admitted.
"Pero may progam ang OWWA natin na reintegration program so may immediate cash assistance, livelihood assistance, education assistance (But the OWWA will give them immediate cash, livelihood, and education assistance under its reintegration program)," he assured the workers.