The inter-agency task force (IATF) on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response on Monday appealed to the local government units (LGUs) to allow the entry of overseas Filipino workers amid the prevailing quarantine measures imposed to stem the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a virtual press briefing, IATF spokesperson and Cabinet secretary Karlo Nograles urged the LGUs to allow the “unhampered transit” of OFWs who already got clearance from the Department of Health (DOH).
“LGUs are also strongly enjoined to allow the unhampered transit of OFWs that have been issued DOH or LGU certificate of completion of 14-day facility-based quarantine, or those who may be required by the DOH or LGUs to undergo a mandatory 14-day home quarantine,” Nograles said
Thousands of OFWs affected by the coronavirus pandemic returned in the country, some of which required to undergo 14-day mandatory quarantine while others were placed under facility-based quarantine.
“Malaki po ang sakripisyo ng ating mga OFWs. ‘Di po sila papauwiin ng DOH kung makakahawa sila. Gusto lang nila umuwi sa kanilang tahanan. Let them go home,” he added.
Earlier, the IATF condemned the discrimination exacted upon OFWs as well as frontliners and patients diagnosed with COVID-19 amid the crisis, GMA News reported.
According to the weekly report submitted by President Rodrigo Duterte to the Congress, nearly 4,600 overseas Filipinos will return to the country, while 1,806 were already repatriated.
Meanwhile, there are 525 Filipinos abroad contracted the disease, according to the latest figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
