DILG to LGUs: Don't deny entry to vehicles with OFWs en route to quarantine facilities

Local government units (LGUs) should allow the passage of vehicles ferrying returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on their way to designated quarantine area amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said Thursday.

Año made the stern call as OFWs from three countries were prevented to go to their designated quarantine facilities in Batangas amid the ongoing enhanced community quarantine due to COVID-19.

Under the guidelines set out by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-IED), returning OFWs should undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine before they are allowed to return to their residence to prevent possible COVID-19 transmission.

“Huwag niyong harangin kasi violation 'yan ng national policy as declared by the IATF,” Año said in an interview over Dobol B sa News TV.

The OFWs, on board buses, were on their way to the designated quarantine facilities in Batangas based on a memorandum issued by DILG regional director Noel Bartolabac.

In a separate interview, Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas claimed he was not informed of such issuance of a memo but assured that he will extend assistance to the OFWs.

“Hindi ko alam na may ganyang pag-uusap, pero tutulungan natin sila,” Mandanas said.

Año, however, argued that the DILG memo is already enough basis to let the OFWs pass through and reach their destination.

“The memo is already enough, and this effort is in coordination with the governors and municipal mayors. Baka sa dami ng ginagawa ng LGU, nakalimutan na nila,” he said.

“But rest assured we will solve this problem. Mandated na ilagay under quarantine ang returning OFWs, at kailangan nila ang ating suporta,” he added.

Año said that at least 8,000 OFWs have returned to the Philippines and were subjected to the mandatory 14-day quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of 4 p.m. of April 22, the Philippines has recorded 6,710 confirmed cases. Of this number, 693 have recovered while 446 deaths have died.

Luzon has been under enhanced community quarantine since March 16 to prevent COVID-19 transmission. This measure banned mass transport, prohibited mass gathering, and imposed curfew hours resulting in work stoppages in many industries.

The government was supposed to lift the COVID-19 quarantine on April 12, but it was extended to April 30 to give the government more time to establish quarantine facilities for confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases.—AOL, GMA News