The Philippine government said it will only allow 1,200 to 1,500 returning overseas Filipino workers to enter the country in an effort to avoid crowding in quarantine facilities and curb the spread of the new coronavirus.
Defese Secretary Delfin Lorenzana released the statement after some 24,000 OFWs got stranded in the government-owned facilities beyond 14-day mandatory quarantine due to delayed release of the Covid-19 test results.
“Ayaw na po nating mangyari iyong nakaraan na umabot ng isang buwan, napagkasunduan po namin na limang araw lang ang maximum na nasa Maynila ang OFWs,” Lorenzana told GMA News Online.
Around 42,000 OFWs are expected to return to the Philippines this month.
“Ang gagawin namin, 1,200 a day lang ang papasok sa bansa. Kung lumuwag luwag, 1,500 to 2,000,” he said noting that RT-PCR Covid-19 test for OFWs is paid for by the government.
“Iying mga returning Filipino po na tourists, students, permanent residents of the Philippines, they will be processed separately from OFWs. Yung hindi po OFWs, sa kanilang gastos po itong Covid-19 test and 14-day quarantine period nila,” he added.
