More than 16,000 OFWs back in hometowns, says Palace
Published May 28, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling
More than 16,000 overseas Filipino workers who tested negative for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are back in their hometowns this week, Malacañang said Thursday.
Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque
(YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) The return of these Filipino repatriates to their homes was in line with President Duterte's order to health and labor authorities to hasten their release from quarantine centers in Metro Manila so they can finally reunite with their families. Around 24,000 Filipino workers have been earlier stuck in the quarantine sites due to the reported delay in the release of the coronavirus test results. “Mahigit 16,000 na mga OFW ang nakauwi sa kani-kanilang mga tahanan mula nang pinag-utos po ni Presidente Duterte ang pagpapauwi ng lahat ng mga kababayan na nag-aantay ng kanilang resulta ng PCR test. Uulitin ko po, lahat po itong mahigit na 16,000 bago pinauwi, negatibo po sila sa COVID-19 PCR test (More than 16,000 OFWs have returned to their respective homes since President Duterte ordered their return of our countrymen waiting for the results of their PCR gets. I repeat, all of of the 16,000 repatriates tested negative for COVID-19 PCR before they were sent home)," Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a televised press briefing. He said three flights to Davao, Dumaguete and Puerto Princesa have been scheduled Thursday to bring home the OFW repatriates. More flights to multiple destinations have also been arranged on the same day. Two ships are also expected to ferry returning Filipino workers to some areas in Visayas and Mindanao Thursday, according to Roque. He said MV St. Michael the Archangel, with a capacity of 816 persons due to physical distancing rule, is bound for Cebu, Dumaguete, Ozamis, Iligan, Zamboanga on Thursday. With a passenger capacity of 469, MV St. Augustine of Hippo will also sail to Cebu Thursday. Roque said 100 buses have also been deployed to transport OFWs to the North and South Luzon destinations. He said workers may get their complete of quarantine certificates at the Bureau of Quarantine website https://www.quarantinecertificate.com. The President earlier ordered the swift return of the OFWs to their hometowns in a bid make room for more workers expected to arrive in the country in the coming months. Labor authorities estimated that around 300,000 OFWs will return to the country this year after being displaced by the coronavirus pandemic. The government has required returning OFWs to undergo coronavirus testing and 14-day facility quarantine as a precaution against the disease.
Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque(YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) The return of these Filipino repatriates to their homes was in line with President Duterte's order to health and labor authorities to hasten their release from quarantine centers in Metro Manila so they can finally reunite with their families. Around 24,000 Filipino workers have been earlier stuck in the quarantine sites due to the reported delay in the release of the coronavirus test results. “Mahigit 16,000 na mga OFW ang nakauwi sa kani-kanilang mga tahanan mula nang pinag-utos po ni Presidente Duterte ang pagpapauwi ng lahat ng mga kababayan na nag-aantay ng kanilang resulta ng PCR test. Uulitin ko po, lahat po itong mahigit na 16,000 bago pinauwi, negatibo po sila sa COVID-19 PCR test (More than 16,000 OFWs have returned to their respective homes since President Duterte ordered their return of our countrymen waiting for the results of their PCR gets. I repeat, all of of the 16,000 repatriates tested negative for COVID-19 PCR before they were sent home)," Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a televised press briefing. He said three flights to Davao, Dumaguete and Puerto Princesa have been scheduled Thursday to bring home the OFW repatriates. More flights to multiple destinations have also been arranged on the same day. Two ships are also expected to ferry returning Filipino workers to some areas in Visayas and Mindanao Thursday, according to Roque. He said MV St. Michael the Archangel, with a capacity of 816 persons due to physical distancing rule, is bound for Cebu, Dumaguete, Ozamis, Iligan, Zamboanga on Thursday. With a passenger capacity of 469, MV St. Augustine of Hippo will also sail to Cebu Thursday. Roque said 100 buses have also been deployed to transport OFWs to the North and South Luzon destinations. He said workers may get their complete of quarantine certificates at the Bureau of Quarantine website https://www.quarantinecertificate.com. The President earlier ordered the swift return of the OFWs to their hometowns in a bid make room for more workers expected to arrive in the country in the coming months. Labor authorities estimated that around 300,000 OFWs will return to the country this year after being displaced by the coronavirus pandemic. The government has required returning OFWs to undergo coronavirus testing and 14-day facility quarantine as a precaution against the disease.