OFWs homebound just 72 hours after arriving in Clark

Repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who arrived at the Clark International Airport on June 5, Friday, were transported to their respective destinations just 72 hours since they returned to the country.

All passengers were swabbed upon arrival at the Clark International Airport. They were given free accommodation in hotels within Clark and in the New Clark City Athletes’ Village as they awaited the results of their RT-PCR tests which were quickly processed at the JB Lingad Memorial Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga.

“Nakakatuwa na makakauwi na sa kanilang mga pamilya ang ating mga kababayan. Talagang siniguro namin na mapabilis ang pagproseso ng kanilang tests para hindi na sila maghintay ng matagal at alam naming sabik na silang umuwi,” said National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vince Dizon. Dizon is also the President and CEO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

The OFWs were given health certificates by the Bureau of Quarantine which permit them to leave the quarantine hotels.

OFWs bound for destinations within Luzon were transported via buses arranged by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and their respective local government units.

The National Task Force Against COVID-19 led by Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr. has committed to improve quarantine procedures, wherein inbound OFWs should stay in quarantine facilities for a maximum of five days.

This is in stark contrast with the situation in the past months wherein thousands of OFWs stayed for prolonged periods in quarantine.

This article originally appeared on: https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1044207