OFW repatriation from COVID-19 hit countries assured

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has vowed to fast-track the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in pandemic-hit countries who want to come home.

Duterte said it pains him that some Filipino migrant workers who lost their jobs are running out of money while waiting for their return to the Philippines.

“So to the Filipinos who want to come home, we will do everything to expedite the return to the country which is the Philippines,” the President said during a public address last Wednesday.

“I love you. If they do not love you, then I love you all and come back to our country and we will see what we can do for you,” he added.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said 555,700 OFWs from different countries have returned to the Philippines.

About 9,000 of them arrived last week. A total of 496 Filipinos arrived from Sabah last Monday and have returned to their respective provinces, he added.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque confirmed that Duterte has approved the allocation of an additional P5.2 billion for the repatriation of OFWs.

“This will be used to pay hotel bills that are ballooning because of the longer quarantine period requirement,” Roque said at a press briefing yesterday.

“This is just half of the funds requested by the OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration). So let’s see what will happen. There may have to be a further supplemental budget or there may have to be amendments of our existing protocols,” he added.

The OWWA needs about P9.8 billion to fund the quarantine accommodations of returning OFWs.