League of Provinces appeals for 'advance notice' regarding returning OFWs

The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) is calling on concerned government agencies to give local officials in the provinces advance notice regarding the arrival of repatriated OFWs who have finished undergoing quarantine in Metro Manila.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV on Wednesday, Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco Jr., the LPP president, expressed frustration over the sudden arrival of the OFWs in their jurisdictions supposedly without prior coordination with local officials.

“Advance notice din po doon sa mga local government units, 'yung arrival po ng OFWs. Malaki po 'yung problema namin,” Velasco said

“Bigla-bigla na lang dumarating 'yung mga OFWs. Nagugulantang 'yung mga local government official. Hindi po nakakapagprepara agad, pati po 'yung pasundo at ‘yung pakain, at ‘yung mga medical staff,” he added.

For Velasco, concerned agencies should inform the local governments at least two to three days before the scheduled arrival of the OFWs.

The Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Department of Health have been working to bring home 24,000 stranded OFWs within the week, as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III has vowed to send all the 24,000 OFWs to their home provinces within three days starting Monday. --Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News