Government imposes rapid testing for arriving OFWs

MANILA, Philippines — Arriving overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will be subjected to rapid testing in addition to the required mandatory 14-day quarantine period, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases said yesterday.

Cabinet Secretary and IATF spokesman Karlo Nograles said the regulations are part of Resolution 26 recently approved by the government’s policymaking body tasked to handle efforts to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The resolution is in accordance with Memorandum 2020-0180 issued by the Department of Health (DOH).   

Sea-based OFWs will be required to present certification of a clean bill of health issued by the Bureau of Quarantine.

The certification should come from the point of origin and issued immediately before their departure.

Nograles said the government has been imposing strict guidelines, which include strategies against importation, to prevent the spread of the disease.

The IATF lauded the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for facilitating the repatriation of 16,682 OFWs, including 13,213 seafarers and 3,469 land-based workers.

Starting today, the Eva Macapagal Super Terminal at Pier 15 in Manila, which was converted into a COVID facility, will accommodate persons showing mild symptoms.

As of Saturday, Nograles said 3,052 quarantine facilities for persons under investigation (PUIs) and mild COVID-19 cases with 211,474 beds have been established nationwide. 

“This does not include the mega quarantine facilities or We Heal as One Centers such as the ASEAN Convention Center, NCC Athlete’s Village and New Clark City, which together provide close to 2,000 additional beds,” Nograles said.

He said there are 17 testing laboratories nationwide, including the Philippine Red Cross facility, which was inaugurated yesterday. 

Aside from this, Nograles said 40 more facilities are awaiting accreditation by the DOH. 

“And we are confident that we will be able to quickly add to the 55,465 individuals we have tested to date,” he said.

The DOH acknowledged that frontline health workers should be provided with proper equipment to allow them to perform their tasks without getting sick.  

As of April 18, the DOH has facilitated the delivery of medical supplies to various health facilities nationwide. These include 10,018 units of alcohol, 79,050 cover-alls, 615,010 face masks, 9,000 face shields, 140,000 gloves, 74,775 goggles, 113,300 caps and 30 non-invasive ventilators.

BalikBayani program

Sen. Risa Hontiveros urged the government to develop a reintegration or a BalikBayani program for OFWs who lose their jobs due to COVID-19.

Hontiveros issued the call as she delivered food packs and hygiene kits to around 400 OFWs undergoing a 14-day mandatory quarantine on a 2GO ship at Pier 15.

“Thousands of families dependent on OFWs lost their source of income. Some Filipino cruise ship workers, seafarers, hotel and tourism workers also lost their jobs. We have to prepare to help them,” Hontiveros said.

She said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) are mandated by law to implement a reintegration program for OFWs.

“OWWA and DOLE should work with local government units (LGUs) to ensure that systems are in place to support returning OFWs. A welfare fund can be established as a source of ‘pantawid’ for their families due to loss of income in the months to come,” Hontiveros said.

She urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development to include OFW families in the social amelioration program.

Meanwhile, almost 200 displaced OFWs from Central Luzon have received cash assistance from the government.

The OWWA Central Luzon regional office said it has distributed a total of P1.6 million to 166 displaced OFWs.

The agency started accepting online applications for the Abot-Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) program, which provides $200 or P10,000 cash assistance to each displaced OFW.

Earlier, the DOLE reported that they received about 30,000 applications for the “DOLE-AKAP for OFWs” program. 

The program targets to provide cash assistance to 150,000 displaced OFWs. 

Qualified OFWs may avail themselves of the assistance by visiting the website http://dole-akap.owwa.gov.ph, fill out the online form, and attach the necessary documents needed. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Mayen Jaymalin