Over 16,000 quarantined OFWs returned to provinces — Palace

More than 16,000 repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in Manila due to the delayed processing of COVID-19 test results have already returned to their respective hometowns, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing that these OFWs had tested negative for the virus.

Government efforts are also underway to ferry the remaining 8,000 OFWs in Manila within the one-week deadline set by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Roque mentioned several flights, including those bound for Davao, Dumaguete and Puerto Princesa on Thursday, and passenger ships bound for Cebu, Dumaguete, Ozamiz, Iligan and Zamboanga. The ships are expected to carry a total of 1,285 OFWs.

Some 100 buses will also ferry OFWs to north and south Luzon destinations.

The League of Provinces of the Philippines on Wednesday urged the concerned agencies to notify local officials at least two to three days before the scheduled arrival of OFWs who have completed quarantine in Metro Manila. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News