Cebu Province drops 14-day quaratine policy for returning OFWs, non-OFWs

CEBU, Philippines —  Returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and non-OFWs will no longer have to undergo a 14-day quarantine in Cebu Province as long as they test negative in the PCR test for COVID-19.

This is stipulated in Executive Order No. 17, the most recent order signed by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, which sets the protocols for returning OFWs and Filipinos from abroad to Cebu Province.

EO No. 17 states that returning Filipinos and OFWs must only accomplish the online Mactan-Cebu International Airport Passenger Registration Form via the MCIAA's website and must have a pre-booked hotel reservation where they will stay temporarily pending the result of their RT-PCR test.

The hotel must be accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Upon arrival at the airport, they will undergo RT-PCR test that will be administered by the Department of Health (DOH) for free.

After the test, they will be transferred to the hotel that they have booked and will wait for the test result there.

"Since the use of the accredited hotel is for transient stay until negative RT-PCR test result is released as opposed to Quarantine – that puts in isolation a person for a fixed number of days to prevent the spread of disease, accredited hotels accepting OFWs and returning non-OFWs waiting for their RT-PCR test result shall be allowed to accept other bookings from the general public subject to health and safety protocols prescribed by the DOH," the EO reads.

If the RT-PCR test result is negative, the OFW or returning non-OFW can go to his/her LGU of destination in Cebu Province.

"Upon release of a negative RT-PCR test result, the OFW or returning non-OFW shall be allowed to depart for his or her local government unit of destination. No other requirement shall be imposed by the LGU in this regard,” the EO reads further.

If the PCR result turns out positive, the DOH's health protocols for the treatment of COVID-19 positive individuals will apply.

Garcia issued her latest EO after her meeting with representatives of DOT, DOH, DILG, Bureau of Quarantine, Overseas Filipino Workers Administration (OWWA), GMR- Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority, and the private sector.

Garcia said quarantining the OFW and returning non-OFW and swabbing them on the fifth day after their arrival gives an additional financial burden to them.

“Daghan kaayo ang naglisod karon; dili na nato pun-an ang ilang kalisod. Rest assured all the health protocols will be followed. This has consensus with DOH-7. Way hayahay ron. Kung muuli ka, duna kay rason. And more often than not, emergency. Limitado ra kaayo ilang panahon sa ilang pamilya. Kung kuhaan pa na nato nga panahon, pila na lang mahabilin sa ilang pamilya,” Garcia said.

She said further that putting the OFWs and returning non-OFWs in hotels for five days before they will be subject to swab as per previous protocols, bludgeons the finances of OWWA, which may be used for other purposes. — JMO (FREEMAN)