Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said there are no available accommodations to house at least 530 Filipino crewmen from two infected cruise ships who are due to arrive on Sunday.
“There are no hotels or motels to book them in,” Locsin on Saturday said on Twitter.
The crewmen worked for cruise liners Costa Fabulosa and Costa Magica, both anchored near the port of Miami, Florida after ill crew members, showing flu-like symptoms similar to coronavirus, were found on board.
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While the Department of Tourism has listed possible accommodations for the arriving crew, Locsin said it still needs to be approved by the Department of Health.
“The DOH says that the rooms must qualify as individual isolation wards with room service so there is no mingling just in case some are Covid,” Locsin said.
“It was suggested that DOH test the incoming crews, but an undersecretary of the DOH said NO. So where to they go? The streets? Yes.”
In the past several weeks, hundreds of Filipino crew from infected cruise ships who returned home to the Philippines were brought to the Athlete’s Village in New Clark City, Pampanga for the mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
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“There is a selection and clearing process that is overseen by the DOH in coordination with the manning agency. There are several considerations taken into account,” said Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Ed Menez.
Menez added the Athlete’s Village still has the crewmen from the infected Grand Princess cruise ship.
According to Locsin, more than 4,000 Filipino crewmen are expected to arrive in the country over the next three weeks.
