Use Subic airport for OFW repatriation efforts, Gordon urges

Senator Richard Gordon on Sunday urged the opening of the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) to accommodate flights for repatriated Filipino workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Gordon noted that the SBIA had facilities for flights, the testing of coronavirus disease 2019, and the isolation of repatriates as around 300,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were expected to return home in the next three to four months.

The senator, who was also the chief of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), added that the newly opened PRC molecular laboratory in Subic and Clark had a combined capacity of 4,000 tests daily.

“Kahapon kinausap ko si [Transportation] Secretary [Arthur] Tugade at sabi ko ‘Art, matagal ka nang nangangako sa’kin, buksan mo na ‘yung airport ng Subic para diyan mag-landing ‘yung ibang OFWs para ma-test na sila kaagad-agad,’” he said in a statement.

Gordon also said that ships carrying Filipino seafarers could dock at the Subic seaport.

“Dati sa Manila Bay sila nagte-test, ang hirap pumasok. Sa Subic, kalmado ang tubig kaya mas madaling pasukin ng Coast Guard ‘yung mga barko para makapag-swab sila sa mga seafarers,” he explained.

The senator added that the use of SBIA for repatriation efforts could help reactivate the tourism industry in Subic.

“Once we have tested everybody here we can advertise to the whole world, ‘We have already tested all the employees here, we have tested everyone here so now you are welcome to come down here’ and jobs can be generated right away,” he said.

Gordon allocated P500 million for the rehabilitation of the SBIA in the 2019 budget. — DVM, GMA News