Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello wants overseas Filipino workers from the United Kingdom who are going to the Philippines for ‘vacation’ be temporarily banned from entering the country.
“It’s been reported by our labor attaches that some of our OFWs, especially in the UK, have been infected with the new variant,” Bello said in a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte.
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The President however was reluctant in banning OFWs from going home.
“I would not agree with the idea of disallowing Filipinos to come home. Mahirap yan,” Duterte said.
The labor chief explained that some OFWs have been infected by the new strain and some of them are only going back to take a vacation.
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“Ang problem, ‘yung mga galing sa UK, ito ‘yung nagbabakasyon lang. Hindi ito displaced because of COVID-19. Karamihan na displaced na OFWs, opted to stay because of their insurance benefits,” Bello said.
“If it is toxic and virulent, we will respond accordingly and it might be something like a lockdown if things get worse,” warned President Duterte if the new strain reaches the Philippines. (TDT)
