Returning home to the Philippines has become a huge pain in the part of Overseas Filipino Workers who had to undergo more than the required 14-day quarantine period just because their COVID-19 test results were delayed.
Much to the dismay of many, even after these OFWs were released from the quarantine facility, they were forced to spend the night inside the airport.
Overseas Filipino workers stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Photo: DANNY PATA
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto described these scenes as “disturbing” adding that OFWs do not deserve this kind of treatment.
“They deserve a red carpet treatment, not a sidewalk reception,” says Recto. “Kung kulang ng tao nasasalubong at aalalay sa anila, pwedeng mag-hire.”
Recto finds “sweeper teams” to be the solution to this ongoing problem amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. These “sweeper teams” will be there to assist stranded Filipino workers into their hotels where they can rest throughout the night as they wait for their flights.
The said appeal of Recto came to light after the Inter-Agency Task Force Head Delfin Lorenzana announced that OFWs will have to be sent home just within 5 days upon their arrival in the country.
Davao-bound OFWs stranded at the airport. Photo: DANNY PATA
Recto also appealed for ease of plight towards the “other OCWs-the Out-of-job Construction Workers” that are left stranded in Metro Manila and other major cities throughout the entire Philippines.
“As we increase capacity for domestic repatriation, we should include jobless, homeless local workers, for they, too, have as much right to government help as their overseas counterparts,” Recto appealed.
Source GMA News
