Recto: Stranded OFWs deserve red carpet treatment, not sidewalk reception

Overseas Filipino workers stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Photo: DANNY PATA

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Saturday lamented the "disturbing" images of overseas Filipino workers spending the night at the airport after being released from quarantine, saying they did not deserve such treatment.

“They deserve a red carpet treatment, not a sidewalk reception,” Recto said. “Kung kulang ng tao na sasalubong at aalalay sa kanila, pwedeng mag-hire."

Recto said the government should provide "sweeper teams" that will assist the stranded OFWs to hotels where they can spend the night while waiting for their flights.

Davao-bound OFWs stranded at the airport. Photo: DANNY PATA

Recto's appeal came following the announcement by Inter-Agency Task Force head, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, that OFWs will be sent home not later than five days after they arrive in the country.

Recto also urged the government to ease the plight of the “other OCWs—the Out-of-job Construction Workers” who have been stranded in Metro Manila and major cities “in their tens of thousands.”

“As we increase capacity for domestic repatriation, we should include jobless, homeless local workers, for they, too, have as much right to government help as their overseas counterparts,” Recto said. -MDM, GMA News