Capitol to shoulder interim expenses of inbound OFWs

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu provincial government will shoulder the interim expenses of overseas Filipino workers bound for their respective provinces via the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) but will be required to wait for the approval of their passage.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced that in compliance with the recently declared national travel ban, any incoming Filipino and permanent resident visa holder from any country will be put under mandatory quarantine.

This applies to Filipinos entering the province from the airport and bound for any of cities or municipalities in Cebu.

"In the meantime, rest assured, nagset-up ta ug mga protocols for your protection, mga Sugboanon. Ang tanan mga foreign travelers, they are now mandatory quarantine. Ang tana usab nga mangabot nga taga Cebu City, taga Mandaue City, taga Lapu-lapu City, mandatory quarantine pud," Garcia said.

She made the remark at a press conference with Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan, along with other members of the Provincial Interagency Task Force on COVID-19 held last Saturday, March 21.

Garcia clarified, however, that passengers entering the province from any foreign country via MCIA and bound for other areas of the country will have to be billeted in identified hotels in the province while the logistics of their outbound travel from Cebu is being worked out.

Their accommodation expenses, Garcia said, will be temporarily shouldered by the province.

"Ang uban nga niana niabot nga Filipinos nga moadto unta padung sa ilang kaugalingon nga mga probinsya ug dili dayon makaadto, ato ni sila… ibutang usa na nato og usa kalugar on quarantine hangtod atong ma-arrange ilang passage pagawas sa Cebu unya ang Probinsya sa Sugbo maoy motubag sa ilang galastoan," she said.

Meanwhile, Chan, at the same press conference, also expressed his willingness to cooperate with the province’s preventive measures.

He thanked the provincial government for its initiative to shoulder the expenses of passengers who would be held in the province.

"Pasalamat ko og dako sa atong pinalanggang Gobernador nga iyang gi-shoulder ang expenses sa pipila ka adlaw nga naga-stand by ang mga pasahero nga i-transport sila sa tagsatagsa nilang mga lugar kay mao na ang order gyud sa Presidente, nga atong mga kaigsuonang Pilipino makasulod gyud," he said.

To recall, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced a sweeping national travel ban on all foreigners last Friday, March 20.

The ban became effective upon midnight yesterday, March 22. It was also clarified that all incoming Filipinos, permanent resident visa holders and foreign spouses are not covered by the national ban.

As for the foreigners who were able to fly into Cebu prior to the effectivity of the ban, Garcia said that they have already been put under mandatory quarantine.

"Ang tanan nga foreign travelers, they are now on mandatory quarantine," she said.

Garcia had already issued Executive Order No. 5-J extending the protocols on quarantine to all persons coming from any foreign country. This was signed last March 15.  JMD (FREEMAN)