The Philippine government has earmarked a budget of PHP5.2 billion to continue with the process of repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) displaced due to the pandemic which is likely to be released this week.
According to officials, the funds will be used to pay for the hotel accommodation, food, and transportation of affected OFWs
In a virtual press conference held on Monday, OWWA chief Hans Leo Cacdac said they are coordinating with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the release of the amount.
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“We are already working with the DBM for the release of the budget hopefully this week. But of course, it involves paperwork, accounting paperwork that we need to comply with so we are coordinating right now with the DBM for the arrangement of the release of the funds,” he said.
He further said the additional funding will be able to accommodate more OFWs until the fourth quarter of this year.
He reported that 9,300 OFWs who have returned to the country are now under quarantine in 160 hotels and are awaiting the results of their swab tests.
He said the quarantine time of Filipino workers in these facilities has been extended to 10 days from seven to nine days as approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
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He added that the OFW will be tested on the seventh day under quarantine with the results expected to be released on the ninth day.
Once they test negative, the OFWs would then be transported back to their hometown on the tenth day.
Meanwhile, Luzon-bound OFWs will be brought to Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) while those who are enroute Visayas and Mindanao will depart from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Cacdac informed that about 545,000 OFWs have been repatriated back home. (AW)
