ILOILO City – Stranded in Metro Manila for nearly two months, 234 Western Visayan overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are finally coming home. The ship transporting them left the Port of Manila at around 6 p.m. last night.
Mostly seafarers, some of these OFWs are from Iloilo city and province. Others are residents of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, according to Jose Roberto Nuñez, director of the Office of Civil Defense Region 6.
The Western Visayas task force on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has coordinated with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) for the OFWs’ return.
From the Port of Manila, the ship would drop by Bacolod City on Wednesday morning to unload 58 OFWs before proceeding to Iloilo City, according to PCG Region 6 spokesperson Captain Erlin Benliro.
The 58 Bacolod/Negros OFWs would be quarantined for 14 days in various quarantine facilities there before they would be allowed to return to their respective homes.
Here in Iloilo city and province, because various local governments of the areas where these OFWs reside needed ample time to prepare their quarantine facilities, Nuñez said the task force has tapped hotels to function as such.
“Through the help of the Department of Tourism Region 6, we have secured enough rooms from various hotels within Iloilo City. We are thankful to the hotel owners for accepting the challenge to accommodate our OFWs despite the short notice,” said Nuñez.
The hotels were briefed on how to properly handle the OFWs, he stressed, to ensure the safety of their staff.
“Proper disinfection will be conducted once these OFWs complete their quarantine in these temporary quarantine facilities,” stressed Nuñez.
Only OFWs who were tested negative for COVID-19 in Manila, showed no symptoms of the illness and have complete documents were allowed to board the vessel, he added.
“This is in pursuant to Regional Task Force Resolution Nos. 12 and 13 which recommended the conduct of rapid test among OFWs prior to transporting them back to the region,” said Nuñez.
The OFWs also agreed to undergo another 14-day quarantine upon arrival despite having completed this before leaving Manila, he added.
In preparation for the arrival of the OFWs, the regional COVID-19 task force conducted yesterday afternoon a simulation exercise at the Philippine Ports Authority, Fort San Pedro here led by the PCG and participated by the Police Regional Office 6, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Tactical Operations Group 6, Bureau of Fire Protection, MARINA, Department of Health and Bureau of Quarantine./PN
