Repatriated OFWs wait at NAIA, unsure if they can get on flights to their home provinces

Overseas Filipino workers who were allowed to leave quarantine facilities after testing negative for COVID-19 continued to arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 for the third day this week.

Many of them, however, just milled around, waiting for a seat to be available on flights back to their home provinces, according to a report by Bam Alegre on GMA News' Unang Balita.

They had no ticket, nor did they know what time a flight would be available, if at all.

The OFWS said there was no point person they could ask about flights, and food and water they could consume while waiting. There was hardly any place they could buy food, they said.

Richie Sulangon, a seaman who worked in the Scandinavian region in Europe and arrived in the country on April 8, lamented that his contributions to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) did not seem to amount to anything.

"Parang walang nangyari sa amin... Wala ang gobyerno...," he said.

On Tuesday, there were also OFWs who complained of being stranded at NAIA since there were not enough flights available.

With Metro Manila still under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until May 31, no commercial flights were available. The government has been coordinating with airlines for sweeper flights for the OFWs.

For Anthony Lugando who worked in Saudi Arabia, however, he is grateful for what the government is doing for OFWs.

"Tiis-tiis lang, kasi para sa akin, nagpapasalamat ako sa gobyerno kasi sinuportahan kami at saka sa OWWA. Libre 'yung tinitirhan, libre 'yung pagkain [sa quarantine facility]. Kaso 'yung ano lang, matagal talaga 'yung result [ng COVID-19 test]," he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ordered government agencies OWWA, Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Health to ensure 24,000 OFWs waiting in quarantine facilities in Metro Manila would be sent home to their provinces in a week's time. —KG, GMA News