The repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who arrived in Clark on June 6 were sent home after being quarantined for only three days as they tested negative from COVID-19. The OFWs received the results of their RT-PCR tests within 72 hours since they returned to the country.
A send-off for the OFWs was held on Tuesday, June 9, led by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vince Dizon, Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac.
Also present at the event were Clark Development Corporation President and CEO Noel Manankil, Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda, Tarlac Governor Susan Yap, and members of the Metro Clark Advisory Council.
Galvez reiterated the government’s commitment to send returning OFWs to their home destinations after a maximum of five days in quarantine.
“Actually ang target talaga namin is within five days ang test results. We are so happy na nagawa namin in three days dito sa Clark,” Galvez said.
Bello assured that there will be employment opportunities for the returning OFWs.
“Wala pong problema ‘yung kanilang employment dahil sa ngayon palang, pine-prepare na ang pagre-employ sa kanila,” he said.
Duque underscored that government is doing everything to ensure the welfare of our kababayans amid the COVID-19 crisis.
“Marami po tayong OFWs na darating pa at kami po sa IATF ay nagpupunyagi at nagpupursigi na masiguro natin na ang lahat ng mga proseso na kanilang dinadaanan ay mapapaigi pa. Napakahalaga po na sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay lagi tayong nagkakaisa para mas maging epektibo ang ating mga solusyon at pagtugon sa mga hinahamon natin bilang isang bansa,” Duque said.
Año meanwhile cited the collective efforts of the government agencies in addressing the needs of the repatriates.
“As we go on ay nag-iimprove pa tayo lalo at unti-unti rin nakikita nating mga local chief executives na this is really a team effort at ang ating OFWs ay talagang dapat natin silang suportahan dahil sila ang ating modern heroes,” says Año.
Dizon recognized the increase of accredited laboratories nationwide which helped ramp up testing of arriving OFWs.
“Ang pagkakaiba ngayon sa mga nakaraang buwan ay ‘yung pagtaas ng bilang ng ating mga laboratoryo. Noong Marso at Abril, kakaunti lamang ang ating mga laboratoryo at mababa lamang ang kapasidad. Noon, nasa 2,000 lang ang capacity natin. Ngayon po dahil sa ginawa ng ating mga kawani sa Department of Health at ng Research Institute for Tropical Medicine ay 40,000 tests per day na po ang capacity natin at 54 laboratories ang mayroon na tayo ngayon kasama na ang JB Lingad Hospital na may fully-automated laboratory at kayang mag-process ng 3,000 [tests] per day. Ito po ay nakapa-importante dahil kahit marami ang darating na OFWs, meron na tayong kapasidad para i-test sila. Hindi na kamukha nang dati na maliit ang capacity kaya medyo nabibilaukan po nang kaunti ang ating mga laboratoryo and we have to thank DOH for their hardwork on that,” Dizon said.
The 337 OFWs were sent home to their respective destinations after receiving health certificates from the Bureau of Quarantine. The results of their RT-PCR tests were processed at the JB Lingad Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga. The homebound repatriates were part of the 345 seafarers of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship who arrived in Clark from Barbados via Philippine Airlines.
The OFWs were swabbed upon their arrival at the Clark International Airport and provided free accommodation at the Quest Hotel and the Park Inn by Radisson Clark.