Around 5,000 to 6,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded in eight countries under the Philippines’ travel ban are waiting to be repatriated, according to Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III.
While returning Filipinos will have to face more stringent quarantine protocols upon their arrival, Bello said that repatriation was necessary to prevent congestion at OFW shelters abroad.
“Kung ihihinto natin mapupuno ang ating shelters. Habang nandoon sila kailangan natin tulungan ang mga OFW,” Bello said.
The government extended travel restrictions on India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Oman until July 31. Indonesia was also added to the list due to the Delta variant outbreak.
The Department of Health detected at least 35 Delta variants in the country including 19 cases involving returning overseas Filipinos.
