Notify government of your return, OFWs told

MANILA, Philippines — Before returning home, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are now required to notify the government five days ahead of their arrival.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said returning workers are requested to notify the government so that proper coordination can be made with the local government units (LGUs).

“We will get the names, their skills and relay the information to the LGUs so that they can immediately be tested for COVID upon their return,” Bello said during the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday.

Bello said OFWs are expected to get their laboratory test within three days and those who have tested negative will be allowed to go back to their home provinces.

Based on Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) data, a total of 321,000 OFWs have been affected by the pandemic, but Bello said a majority or 191,000 of them would rather stay abroad. Only 16,679 are set to return until end-June.

Bello said DOLE is providing P10,000 cash assistance to displaced OFWs as well as scholarship for the children of the OFWs who are members of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

The government is also providing P10,000 capital for undocumented and P20,000 for displaced OFWs who have returned and intend to put up their own business.

For the relatives of OFWs, Bello said DOLE has put up a command center where they can verify the whereabouts and condition of their loved ones abroad.