The National Task Force Against COVID-19 is ensuring a faster quarantine process for returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Based on data, an estimate of 42,000 OFWs from countries gravely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are returning to the Philippines this month.
“Gagawin natin electronic data ‘yung pre-departure nila sa abroad. ‘Yung ating DFA, OWWA tsaka DOLE ay gagawa ng hakbang para at least makuha na agad yung data doon sa abroad (We will use an electronic data for their pre-departure abroad. The DFA, OWWA, and DOLE will take measures to immediately get the data abroad),” National Action Plan Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. says.
The NTF Against COVID-19 aims to limit the stay of OFWs in quarantine facilities in Metro Manila to five days. Some airports will also be used to receive returnees.
Galvez shares their meetings with concerned agencies have been ongoing to ensure a smoother processing of returnees.
Meanwhile, Galvez discloses the plan to test one to two percent of the whole Philippine population in August. He has also revealed that more or less 74,000 test kits and consumables have arrived.
“By next week i-stablize na po namin ang supply chain. At nakikita natin ‘yung mga testing capacity natin mag-i-increase na po (By next week, we will stabilize the supply chain. We are seeing our testing capacity to increase),” he pointed out. – Report from Bea Bernardo
