By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Thursday said the government is on the right track in deciding to repatriate Filipinos from the cruise ship stricken by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Japan.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
"Tama ang desisyon ng pamahalaan na i-repatriate ang mga kababayan nating nagtratrabaho sa barkong na-quarantine sa Japan (The government's decision to repatriate the Filipino workers in the quarantined ship in Japan is right)," Recto said in a statement.
"If we have to charter a plane, then let us do it, if only to send a powerful signal to Filipino seafarers that when in distress, the government will rush to their aid," he added.
Recto said the government should be ready to help the affected overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), stressing their contributions to the country.
Citing government data, he said OFWs remitted a total of P1.7 trillion last year, "of which P1 in every P4 was sent by 378,000 sea-based OFWs."
"The country’s economy is kept buoyant by those who take on hard and dangerous work at sea," Recto said.
"So if one of the seamen on that cruise ship in Japan is ill, then he should be viewed like a soldier wounded in action, for his ailment was certainly acquired in the line duty," he pointed out.
The Department of Health said Wednesday that the government is already finalizing its repatriation plans for the Filipino crew members and passengers of the M/V Diamond Princess cruise ship now docked in Japan.
The repatriation will be voluntary, authorities said.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
"Tama ang desisyon ng pamahalaan na i-repatriate ang mga kababayan nating nagtratrabaho sa barkong na-quarantine sa Japan (The government's decision to repatriate the Filipino workers in the quarantined ship in Japan is right)," Recto said in a statement.
"If we have to charter a plane, then let us do it, if only to send a powerful signal to Filipino seafarers that when in distress, the government will rush to their aid," he added.
Recto said the government should be ready to help the affected overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), stressing their contributions to the country.
Citing government data, he said OFWs remitted a total of P1.7 trillion last year, "of which P1 in every P4 was sent by 378,000 sea-based OFWs."
"The country’s economy is kept buoyant by those who take on hard and dangerous work at sea," Recto said.
"So if one of the seamen on that cruise ship in Japan is ill, then he should be viewed like a soldier wounded in action, for his ailment was certainly acquired in the line duty," he pointed out.
The Department of Health said Wednesday that the government is already finalizing its repatriation plans for the Filipino crew members and passengers of the M/V Diamond Princess cruise ship now docked in Japan.
The repatriation will be voluntary, authorities said.