By MB Online
Some local government units would add quarantine facilities in their localities amid the return of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in their home provinces, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Wednesday.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (Photo from Philippine Information Agency / MANILA BULLETIN)
Año, in an interview over Unang Balita, said LGUs cannot deny the OFWs from going back to their home provinces as this was ordered by President Duterte.
"Hindi nila maaring tanggihan ito sapagkat ito ay ipinag-uutos na ng ating Pangulo bilang rekomendasyon ng IATF ," Año said in an interview on GMA News' Unang Balita.
"Nakausap ko naman 'yung mga mayors at sila naman ay tatanggapin nila 'yung mga OFWs... pero may mga imposition din sila lalo 'yung mga tinatawag natin na probinsiya na may zero case pa ngayon, magdadagdag pa sila ng additional quarantine para sa OFW."
OFWs who have spacious residences can undergo self-quarantine in their respective homes, Ano added.
"Ang sinasuggest natin dito dahil ito'y mga OFWs na 'yan, ang unang pinupundar nila ay makapagpagawa ng mga bahay nila so we are expecting lalo na 'yung mga OFWs na matagal na sa labas ng bansa, magaganda na 'yung mga bahay na napatayo niyan kaya puwede na silang mag-home quarantine," he said.
"'Pero yung talagang masikip pa din, dito pa din sila sa isolation facilities. At least nandito sila sa kanilang lugar at abot tanaw nila ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay," Año added.
The League of Provinces of the Philippines earlier said returning OFWs must still undergo quarantine and be subjected for COVID-19 testing once they arrive in their home provinces.
President Duterte on Monday ordered government agencies to rush the release of COVID-19 test results of over 24,000 returning OFWs staying in quarantine centers so that they can go back to their homes.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (Photo from Philippine Information Agency / MANILA BULLETIN)
Año, in an interview over Unang Balita, said LGUs cannot deny the OFWs from going back to their home provinces as this was ordered by President Duterte.
"Hindi nila maaring tanggihan ito sapagkat ito ay ipinag-uutos na ng ating Pangulo bilang rekomendasyon ng IATF ," Año said in an interview on GMA News' Unang Balita.
"Nakausap ko naman 'yung mga mayors at sila naman ay tatanggapin nila 'yung mga OFWs... pero may mga imposition din sila lalo 'yung mga tinatawag natin na probinsiya na may zero case pa ngayon, magdadagdag pa sila ng additional quarantine para sa OFW."
OFWs who have spacious residences can undergo self-quarantine in their respective homes, Ano added.
"Ang sinasuggest natin dito dahil ito'y mga OFWs na 'yan, ang unang pinupundar nila ay makapagpagawa ng mga bahay nila so we are expecting lalo na 'yung mga OFWs na matagal na sa labas ng bansa, magaganda na 'yung mga bahay na napatayo niyan kaya puwede na silang mag-home quarantine," he said.
"'Pero yung talagang masikip pa din, dito pa din sila sa isolation facilities. At least nandito sila sa kanilang lugar at abot tanaw nila ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay," Año added.
The League of Provinces of the Philippines earlier said returning OFWs must still undergo quarantine and be subjected for COVID-19 testing once they arrive in their home provinces.
President Duterte on Monday ordered government agencies to rush the release of COVID-19 test results of over 24,000 returning OFWs staying in quarantine centers so that they can go back to their homes.