At least 13 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the United Arab Emirates were reportedly stranded in Singapore Changi Airport following the Philippine government’s decision to extend the travel ban on some countries, according to ABS-CBN News.
They have been sleeping on the airport benches for three days already while waiting to be allowed entry to the Philippines.
They were told to fly back to UAE, but they insisted that they were not informed that the travel ban had been extended.
The Filipino Times has sought comments from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) regarding the plight of the stranded OFWs.
OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said in a text message: “Yes, our POLO [Philippine Overseas Labor & Office] in Singapore is assisting na po.”
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the extension of the travel ban imposed on the UAE, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Oman until June 15.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the extension was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte after the meeting of the national task force against COVID-19 on Monday night.
The travel ban aims to prevent the entry of the more transmissible Indian COVID-19 variant from India which has been declared as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization.
The travel ban to India was imposed on April 29 and was later on extended which included other countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.
The UAE and Oman were added on the list after the first cases of the Indian variant first detected in the Philippines came from persons who had travel history in these two countries.
