League of Provinces wary of shortened quarantine period for OFWs

The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) on Friday expressed apprehension over the reduction in the required quarantine days for overseas Filipino workers before they could be allowed to return to their hometowns.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr., LPP president, said not all local governments have sufficient funds to accommodate OFWs who will spend the remainder of their quarantine in local facilities.

“Meron po kaming agam-agam po diyan dahil, isa po, alam niyo naman po ‘yung pondo po, para ho kami ang magbabayad ng kanilang pagkain at tirahan,” he said.

(We are apprehensive over that because of fund issue, so we would be able to pay for the food and lodgings.)

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has suggested that returning OFWs should complete the rest of the 14-day quarantine period in their respective local government units if they test negative for COVID-19.

Velasco said accommodation of OFWs in local governments will depend on the available capacity of hotels and other lodging establishments in the area.

Aside from this, he also said manpower of LGUs who will assist and monitor OFWs should also be considered.

Velasco advised concerned government agencies to coordinate with LGUs first before sending OFWs to their hometowns.

Bello has cited the depleted funds of his department as reason for suggesting the shortening of quarantine period for OFWs. The Department of Labor and Employment shoulders the accommodation expenses of OFWs who arrive in the country and undergo mandatory quarantine.

According to Bello, the testing positivity rate of returning overseas Filipinos in 2020 was 2.07% while it decreased to 1.5% in 2021.

President Rodrigo Duterte, in response to Bello's appeal, said he is not prepared to allow less stringent quarantine and testing protocols for arriving OFWs.

OCTA Research fellow Prof. Guido David said Thursday said shortening the quarantine period of OFWs will add more risk of COVID-19 infections.  —KBK, GMA News