ILOILO City – Forty-one seafarers stranded in Metro Manila were scheduled to return to Western Visayas either last night or early this morning.
They were all negative for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to Atty. Roy Villa, spokesperson of the Western Visayas task force on the new coronavirus disease.
The seafarers were all tested by the Department of Health via the more reliable reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) process, he added.
The ship transporting them left the Port of Manila on Thursday night.
Of the 41 seafarers, 25 were residents of Iloilo province; 10, Iloilo City; five, Guimaras; and one, Bago City in Negros Occidental.
The ship would first dock at the Bredco Port in Bacolod City for the disembarkation of the Bago City seafarers before proceeding to Fort San Pedro in Iloilo City, said Villa.
Subjecting the seafarers to RT-PCR test in Manila was in line with resolutions No. 12, 13 and 14 of the regional COVID-19 task force on the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). They set the following protocols:
* OFWs must have undergone RT-PCR test with negative result conducted within seven days prior to boarding
* OFWs must have certification that they have finished a 14-day quarantine
* OFWs must have medical certificates attesting to their being asymptomatic and in good health condition
Upon disembarkation at Fort San Pedro, the seafarers from Iloilo city and province, and Guimaras would be taken to a hotel on General Luna Street for 14 days of quarantine.
However, according to Villa, the local government units (LGUs) of these seafarers have the option of taking them directly to their respective quarantine facilities.
In the case of the Iloilo City seafarers, Mayor Jerry Treñas said, they would again be tested via RT-PCR and while waiting for the results (which could take two to three days) they would be billeted at a hotel.
Seafarers with negative test results would be allowed to continue their quarantine at home, said Treñas.
On the part of the Iloilo provincial government, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said, LGUs were prepared to accommodate the returning seafarers in their respective quarantine facilities.
“May iban nga ma-deretso na sa ila banwa…but siling ko…mapreparar gid…kita sang alternative facility,” said Defensor.
The seafarers would also be subjected to another RT-PCR test.
On April 29, the first batch of Ilonggo OFWs stranded in Metro Manila returned to Western Visayas. As of May 8, 23 of them tested positive for COVID-19 (Aklan, one; Antique, three; Guimaras, two; Iloilo province, four; Negros Occidental, four; Bacolod City, two; Iloilo City, seven).
Just this May 4, President Rodrigo Duterte issued a warning to Treñas.
“Sa city of Iloilo, hindi ninyo tinanggap ‘yung mga (returning) overseas Filipino workers. Sir, mayor, nakikiusap ako sa inyo…magkakaroon ho tayo ng problema if you resist,” said the President in a televised address to the nation.
But Treñas said the President was fed with the wrong information. He denied having prevented Manila-stranded overseas workers from returning to Iloilo.
“I think may naga-intriga. Sa akon paglantaw lain ang information ang nagalab-ot sa babaw,” he said.
Treñas did not name anyone who could be giving President Duterte with false information but gave a hint, “Sila man to may access sa babaw.”
“We will clarify this. Indi nami nga ginaguba ang syudad. Lain diri ang nagakatabo, lain man sugid sa babaw,” said Treñas.
Duterte said he may be forced to “operate” through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“I’d like to address local executives. It is your duty to help and protect your constituents. I have no quarrel that you want the contagion stopped right then and there at your doorstep,” Duterte said. “But you know, OFWs are citizens of this country. Whether we like it or not they have this constitutional right to travel abroad and to come home after working there.”
“Sumunod kayo sa magandang paraan, o pipilitin kong sumunod kayo. I don’t want to embarrass people,” the Chief Executive said.
Instead of prohibiting overseas Filipinos from returning home and leaving them stranded, the President said local governments should provide special facilities for them to complete their mandatory 14-day quarantine./PN
