Richard Gomez hits nat'l gov't for not coordinating return to provinces of quarantined OFWs

Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez on Monday lamented the supposed lack of coordination in the return of stranded Overseas Filipino Workers to their home provinces.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Gomez said local government officials were expecting a proper notice on the return of the OFWs.

However, they were surprised upon receiving a text message just this morning that OFWs will arrive in their province.

"Lahat naman ng mga mayor nagpre-prepare para sa paguwi ng mga OFW atsaka 'yung mga locally stranded individuals. Ang hinihingi namin dito, 'yung coordination coming from the national agencies," Gomez said.

"Kasi katulad kanina, kanina nakareceive lang kami ng text galing sa OWWA na mayroon daw tatlong eroplano na maglalanding sa Tacloban at uuwi 'yun sa iba't-ibang siyudad at munisipyo dito sa Leyte o Samar," he added.

"Sabi namin, sinusunod namin 'yung mga guidelines na galing sa kanila, Sabi nila ino-notify nila 'yung mga LGUs, three days prior sa paguwi nila, complete with documentation, lahat nandoon... 'Yun ang hinahanap namin ngayon," Gomez said.

Gomez said officials from the national government must have coordination among themselves so that pertinent information will be properly relayed to local executives.

"Kailangan namin ng coordination. Dapat 'yung mga national agencies, kaya magkakagulo talaga 'yung tao... kailangan talaga proper coordination... Huwag niyo ho kami pahulain," Gomez said.

"Hindi ho kami puwedeng mag-magic, bigyan niyo kami ng tamang intervention," he added.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte gave a one-week ultimatum for the Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Department of Health to send the OFWs back to their home provinces amid this quarantine.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said a total of 24,000 OFWs will be sent back to their homes in three days' time.

All police commanders have been alerted by the Philippine National Police to assist the OFWs who will go home. -NB, GMA News