BOCAUE, Bulacan– A total of 367 individuals have so far recovered from COVID-19 at the We Heal As One Center-Philippine Arena.
These include about 151 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were sent home Saturday. They are seafarers and land-based OFWs from the Middle East and United Kingdom who were repatriated due to the pandemic.
The simple send-off ceremony for the COVID recovered individuals was led by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vince Dizon, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, Bureau of Quarantine Director and Head Facility Manager Roberto Salvador, and Maligaya Development Corporation Chief Operating Officer Glicerio Santos IV.
“Natutuwa tayo na makakauwi na ang ating mga OFWs sa kani-kanilang pamilya, at pagkatapos nga ng mga pagsubok na dinaanan nila, sila ngayon ay negatibo na sa COVID. Saludo din po kami sa ating mga medical frontliners na siniguro ang mabilis na paggaling ng ating mga kababayan (We are very happy that our OFWs can now go home to their families as they are now negative of COVID. We salute the medical frontliners who ensured their fast recovery),” Duque said.
We Heal As One Centers were put up by the government and the private sector for COVID-19 patients with mild and no symptoms. The Philippine Arena facility has a 300-bed capacity.
In Central Luzon, other We Heal As One Centers include the ASEAN Convention Center in Clark Freeport Zone and National Government Administrative Center in New Clark City.
Dizon said OFWs residing in parts of Luzon were transported to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, while those going to Visayas and Mindanao were brought to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.