OWWA ready for influx of returning OFWs this Christmas

Overseas Workers Welfare administrator Hans Leo Cacdac assured the public on Sunday that OWWA is ready for the influx of OFWs returning for Christmas amid health protocol constraints brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Cacdac said that hotel accommodation for returning workers is still under manageable level.

He said that at present the number of OFWs being accommodated in government-sponsored hotels nationwide is from 12,000 to 13,000. Of the number, 9,859 are in the National Capital Region, billeted in 178 hotels.

According to him, the "red alert level" is at around 15,000, so everything is still okay, the OWWA administrator said.

Further, he noted that the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and the IATF's One-Stop-Shop -- including the Department of Transportation (DOTr), OWWA,  and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) -- have been working to ensure that many returning OFWs for the Christmas season will be assisted in their coming home.

"Aside from the the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the government has already established several international ports of entry, such as the ones in Laoag, Clark, Subic, Cebu, and Davao," Cacdac said.

Also, OWWA is arranging local flights to transport OFWs to Metro Manila, and we are working with the DOTr and with the airlines.

Pressed on OWWA's health protocol guidelines on inbound OFWs, he reminded the workers of the guidelines under IATF Resolution 142 that was passed on October 7 and took effect on the following day, Friday .

Under the resolution, "fully-vaccinated travelers from countries on the 'green' or ''yellow'' lists will undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative COVD-19 swab test taken on the 5th day." —LBG, GMA News