Presidential aspirant and Senator Ping Lacson said that the national government is ready to accept 80,000 to 100,000 overseas Filipino workers during the holidays and amid the threat of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
“Whether it is 50,000 or 100,000 or 200,000 OFWs, I think the government agencies concerned are prepared for their arrival. It’s a good thing that there is not a single case of Omicron. I hope we can keep it that way,” Lacson said in a press conference during his visit to Cebu.
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Lacson said that OWWA already made the announcement that they are expecting an influx of returning OFWs for the holidays.
Lacson however highlights the need to impose stricter border protocols to prevent the entry of the more transmissible variant.
OWWA Chief Hans Cacdac said that the agency is spending Php30 million a day for the accommodation of returning Filipinos.
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Apart from accommodation the government is also shouldering the food and transportation expenses of OFWs.
The government has also extended financial assistance to over 540,000 OFWs amounting to Php5.4 billion.
OWWA adds that the one time cash assistance will continue in January due to backlogs. (TDT)
