400 COVID-19 positive OFWs lament Taiwan dormitory woes

More than 400 overseas Filipino workers who tested positive for COVID-19 in Taiwan experienced distress after the management of their dormitory decided to transfer some of them to former quarantine facilities, repacking their belongings in plastics.

In a footage taken by Gina Lin, as shown Friday on "Balitanghali" by Mark Salazar, the OFWs were seen soaked in the rain as they returned to their dormitory.

Prior to this, the OFWs, who are working in one factory, tested positive for the virus on June 4.

"Nakatambay sila sa bus mula gabi hanggang kinaumagahan the next day. Naka-PPE silang lahat, basang basa ng pawis (They stayed on the bus from night until the next morning. They were all wearing PPE, drenched in sweat)," said Lin, a Filipino resident in Taiwan.

Upon their return to the dormitory the next morning, the OFWs were surprised that their belongings were already packed while new guests occupied their rooms.

"Nilagay sa mga plastik na parang mga basurahan so ipinarating namin sa MECO 'yan. Ang sabi ng MECO, (The belongings were sealed in plastic bags like rubbish, so we informed MECO), who said they know and they are monitoring the case," Lin said.

Some of the OFWs were transferred to other dormitories formerly used as quarantine facilities, but they refused to go inside.

"Nandoon ang mga used items ng mga dating nakatira diyan, mga tissue, mga PPE, kaya 'yung mga hindi pa nakapasok, ayaw nang pumasok doon sa dormitory. Kasi ang [concern] nila, na-disinfect ba ang lugar na ito?" Lin said.

(Used items of former occupants were strewn around, including tissues, PPE. So, some of the OFWs refused to use the dormitory. They did not know whether the place was disinfected.)

Lin added that OFWs probably acquired COVID-19 in dormitories, wherein as many as 12 people were staying in a room good for four only.

"Kinakawawa ang mga OFW dito sa ka karamihan ng dorms dito na pinagsisiksik sila. Hindi naman tayo magkakaproblemang cluster kung hindi mo pinagsisiksik ang mga tao sa isang maliit na kuwarto," Lin claimed. 

(The OFWs are ill-treated in most of the dorms here because they are asked to cram. We won't have a cluster problem if you do not cram people into a small room).

OFWs who refused to use the dormitory had set themselves up in the lobby to rest, while others fell in line for their swab tests for them to be reallowed to enter their factory.

GMA News is seeking the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) for comment.

In a text message, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Cacdac said that the agency will monitor the condition of OFWs. —LBG, GMA News