Some Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) going to Saudi Arabia are worried that they won’t be allowed to enter the country because of the kind of vaccine that they received in the Philippines.
These worries were shrugged by the Department of Labor and Employment citing the fact that the gulf country allows any vaccine as long as they can present a negative RT-PCR test before they leave the PHL.
Hazel Joy Hernandez worked as a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia for more than two years. But on January 4, she decided to return to the Philippines because her child got ill.
But just after a few months, Hazel Joy decided to return to KSA because of financial issues. She was just waiting for her ticket to leave the country.
“Pero ‘yun po ‘yung nabasa naming sa advisory ng OWWA at saka ng Saudi Arabia na kailangan daw po lahat ng OFW na papunta ng Saudi is nabakunahan na,” says OFW Hazel Joy Hernandez.
She also fears that Saudi Arabia won’t allow her to enter the country because of the vaccine which was administered to her.
“Lahat po kami dito sa loob ng accommodation parang biglang naghina na ‘yung iba kase medyo matagal na kaming naghihintay tapos biglang gano’n na lang ‘yung mababalitaan namin na nag-istrikto ‘yung Saudi,” Hernandez added.
But according to DOLE, these are not true.
“Yes, OFWs vaccinated with Sinovac can enter Saudi, provided they have negative PCR test before departure, 7-day quarantine in Saudi upon arrival, and negative swab test on the 6th day of quarantine thereat,” says DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III.
“The GACA advisory only mentions that those inoculated with Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZenexa will be exempted from quarantine and swab. No special mention about those who received Sinovac and that they will be denied entry. As long as mag-comply sila sa quarantine procedures puwede sila [mag-] enter [sa] Saudi Arabia,” Bello further added.
Source GMA News
