Several reports of repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) being stuck in quarantine beyond the mandatory 14-day facility-based quarantine have surfaced in the past months. This put pressure on the government to put in place “remedial measures” to ensure that they will be sent to their respective hometowns immediately, if possible within 72 hours.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the government wants to replicate how they ferried repatriated OFWs who arrived at the Clark International Airport on June 5 to their respective destinations just 72 hours since they returned to the country.
“We’re confident that the time that the OFWs have to spend in different quarantine areas will be a lot less,” he said.
To date, he said the government has opened more gateways, such as the Clark International Airport, to welcome repatriated OFWs, who have to immediately undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.
Recruitment and manning agencies also have the freedom to choose the lab they want to process PCR tests, he added.
“In other words, we have implemented a free market even in PCR testing. No more playing favorites. Whoever can do it efficiently and at the cheapest price, we have given the OFWs and their principles liberty to choose,” he said.
OFWs can also opt to go straight to their hotels, which are being used as quarantine facilities unless they prefer being tested at airports.
He said the government continues to establish more laboratories that can do the Covid-19 testing and maximize its testing capacity.
