Several Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are likely to get stranded in airports after Hong Kong banned flights from the Philippines.
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo J. Cacdac said at an online briefing on Thursday that the agency is currently evaluating the volume of flight cancellations.
This was being done in order to gauge the volume of aid required for OFWs unable to fly.
RELATED STORY: Omicron pushes COVID-19 cases 300 million worldwide
Hong Kong has barred flights from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK, and the US between January 8 and 21.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said this was a precaution taken against re-emerging coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks.
Cacdac said that recruitment agencies have been providing help to stranded OFWs, but additional assistance from the government may be needed in some cases.
READ ON: Philippines detects 29 new Omicron cases, mostly local cases
“We will help them if they have nowhere to stay here in Manila, if they are from provinces or other regions, by providing them shelter, food and accommodation, and assistance for transport from the airport to where they would like to be sent,” he said adding that the Philippines’ fresh surge of COVID-19 cases will likely affect the deployment of OFWs only during high-infection periods.
“If there will be an effect, it will only be temporary and will remain only at times when the surge can be felt, but this will not stay for long. I think foreign host countries, governments, and foreign employers will understand when it comes to our workers.”
