Malacañang on Saturday defended itself against Migrante International’s tirades about overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) getting garbage-like treatment upon return to the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the returning migrant workers were being treated like VIPs.
“Inuwi po natin ang lahat ng manggagawa natin. Binigyan ng libreng PCR [polymerase chain reaction] testing. Binigyan ng libreng pamasahe sa eroplano, sa bus at sa barko,” he said in defense.
[We brought them back home. We gave them free PCR testing. We gave them free fares on airplanes, bus and ships.]
“Hindi po ‘yan garbage-like treatment. VIP treatment po ‘yan,” he added.
[That’s not a garbage-like treatment. It’s VIP treatment.]
To date, an estimated 22,426 OFWs have gone home to their respective hometowns following testing and quarantine upon repatriation.
The Filipino migrant workers’ group released a statement saying OFWs were “dumped like garbage” in airports after being stuck in Metro Manila for several weeks.
“Migrante International calls on President Duterte to put a stop on this day-light robbery and focus on helping Filipino migrants at this period of crisis. OFWs are likewise appealing to OWWA to constantly provide their necessities like food, water, toiletries and comfortable waiting areas at the airport. Medical attention and flight priorities must be given to the elderly, pregnant women and physically challenged OFWs,” the statement read.
