OWWA chief wants sanctions vs. recruitment agencies of stranded would-be OFWs

The recruitment agencies of around 300 would-be OFWs who were stranded in Metro Manila amid the COVID-19 pandemic must be sanctioned for neglect, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Hans Leo Cacdac said Thursday.

A report during the virtual Laging Handa briefing said the affected individuals went to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Terminal 2 on Wednesday after receiving messages that chartered flights to their home provinces will be available. However, the flights did not materialize and they ended up spending the night at the airport.

Cacdac on Thursday went to the terminal to check the situation and found out that these affected individuals are applicants for overseas jobs who got stranded while processing their requirements in Metro Manila.

"Nililista na natin ang mga pangalan at saka itong mga recruitment agency nila na binitawan sila ay pananagutin natin sa korte at sa POEA dahil sila ay may responsibilidad din sa kanilang mga aplikante," Cacdac said during the on-site interview.

"Sila ang nagpadala dito, libre ang ticket mula Mindanao hanggang Maynila eh bakit hindi na nila mapangatawanan na pauwiin mula Manila pa-Mindanao?" he added.

Cacdac said the stranded individuals were already provided with food assistance.

He vowed that the government will help them to safely get home to their provinces.

"Hindi po natuloy ang kanilang balak na mag-OFW, they never left the country. Ang puwede pong gawin dito ay ayusin ang kanilang documentation as locally stranded individuals under the IATF regulations at i-coordinate po sa Balik-Probinsiya Program," he said.

Cacdac said OWWA will also coordinate with the Department of Transportation, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and other concerned agencies to facilitate their travel. --KBK, GMA News