DOH coordinating with agencies in case of OFW who skipped quarantine

The Department of Health is coordinating with concerned government agencies in connection with the case of the overseas Filipino worker who skipped facility quarantine upon arrival from abroad.

Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said the DOH was coordinating with the Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Quarantine, and the Department of Transportation.

Vergeire made the remark after a barangay chairman in Parañaque posted a video of members of the PCG looking for the OFW at a residence in the city.

“Sana po yung pagmamalasakit natin sa ating sambayanang Pilipino, maipakita natin sa pag sunod natin doon sa mga protocols natin na pinapatupad para hindi kumalat ang sakit dito sa ating bansa,” Vergeire said.

[I hope that we can show our compassion for our fellow Filipinos through compliance with protocols so that the virus will not spread in the country.]

“Binibigyan natin ng pasasalamat yung local government diyan sa area na ‘yan dahil pinursigi nila na talagang hanapin ‘yung ating OFW at mapagsabihan at makapag bigay ng abiso,” she added.

[We thank the local government in that area because they really followed the OFW and reprimanded them.]

In a statement, the PCG said it previously received information that two non-OFWs failed to proceed to their quarantine facility at Airport Poddotel Hotel in Pasay City on December 22.

The PCG said the two arrived in the Philippines on December 21 from the United States.

“Upon arrival, DRG team and the LGU personnel confirmed that the subjects ROFs has already arrived at their home residence. Eventually, the subjects were convinced to go back to their designated quarantine facility,” the PCG said.

According to the PCG, the initial investigation showed that the two mistakenly went to another hotel and were not accommodated, prompting them to go home. They are now undergoing mandatory quarantine. —NB/VBL, GMA News