Guevarra says OFWs 'certainly' a priority even as gov't mulls letting foreign workers in

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said returning Filipino migrant workers are the government's priority even as it studies allowing some foreigners to enter the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"We are studying these matters very carefully," Guevarra said in a message to reporters. 

"We have to deal with the repatriation of thousands of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) and we do not want them to be crowded out by foreign nationals who will likewise have to be tested and quarantined upon arrival," he said. 

Guevarra said OFWs are "certainly" a priority but that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases may consider the re-entry of the concerned foreign nationals if they comprise a "manageable number."

Earlier this week, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government is studying the entry into the country of foreign workers in flagship infrastructure projects as well as permanent resident visa holders. 

Only Filipinos, their spouse and children, accredited foreign government and international organization officials, as well as foreign airline crew are currently allowed to enter the country, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Foreign nationals may leave the Philippines anytime, while only OFWs, permanent residents or holders of student visas in their country of destination may be allowed to depart.

Guevarra said on Wednesday that a foreign embassy had requested the Philippines to allow the entry of its nationals who have permanent or long-term visas issued by the BI. 

On the other hand, the matter of allowing foreign technical workers on flagship projects to return to the country was brought up by the Department of Public Works and Highways, he said. 

Guevarra, an IATF member, said the task force referred these matters to a technical working group. The IATF may decide next week, he said. 

He said visas upon arrival (VUA) — whose implementation for Chinese nationals was suspended in January — are not covered by the study. 

Visa-free privileges of foreigners were suspended in March. —KG, GMA News