Returning OFWs to undergo 14-day quarantine in home provinces, not in Metro Manila —DOLE exec

Returning overseas Filipino workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic will no longer be held for 14 days in Metro Manila for the mandatory quarantine as this will be done in their home provinces, according to a Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) official on Tuesday.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, Director Alice Visperas from the International Labor Affairs Bureau said the new protocol was agreed upon by the DOLE, the Philippine Red Cross, and other partner agencies.

"Hindi na po 14 days [sa Metro Manila], pagdating dito ay isa-swab, at three to five days makukuha na po ang resulta ng swabbing test at uuwi na po sila sa kanilang mga probinsya at doon na lamang sila magka-quarantine," she said.

"Kaya po naging ganito ang proseso natin sa Manila, kasi nga po na-quarantine na dito ng 14 days, pagdating po doon sa LGUs ika-quarantine pa rin doon, doble-doble," she added.

The success of this reduced waiting time for OFW's COVID-19 test result has been observed in recent days, according to Visperas.

The Labor official also clarified that not all of the 340,000 OFWs across the globe who manifested that they are affected by the pandemic intend to go home to the Philippines.

"Out of that figure po mayroong mga stranded, may mga gusto na mag-stay pa rin, at mayroon pong ready for repatriation na," Visperas said.

She said more than 180,000 want to stay abroad; 85,000 are stranded and still waiting for travel documents; 18,000 are ready for repatriation; and 49,000 are already repatriated.

While many are scheduled for repatriation, the actual touchdown of flights are being affected by the limited number of allowed arrivals per day, she added.

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the government will only allow 1,200 to 1,500 returning OFWs to enter the country per day to prevent crowding in quarantine facilities.

Nonetheless, Visperas assured the public that the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices are continually coordinating with employers of OFWs to process their exit visas and send them back home as soon as possible.—AOL, GMA News