The Department of Transportation, through the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), in close coordination with the Office of Gov. Arthur Yap of the Province of Bohol, launched the One Stop Shop (OSS) at Bohol-Panglao International Airport yesterday, November 17.
At around 5:26 PM yesterday, DOTr and CAAP, along with various agencies and Bohol PGU representatives, facilitated the pilot implementation of the OSS by processing 120 passengers who arrived from Bangkok via Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight PR 731, where all government frontline services are made accessible to returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
“The government has repatriated a lot of OFWs displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic since last year. And there are more of them expected to return, which is why DOTr and CAAP aim to prioritize not only their safety and security in our airports, but more importantly, their convenience in our terminals,” CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco said.
The One Stop Shop initiative is pursued under the mandate and directive of DOTr Secretary Art Tugade, stressing the need to ease the burden of returning OFWs in view of the limited international arrival capacities at NAIA, Mactan and Clark. CAAP Director General Captain Jim C. Sydiongco also expressed support, as an increase in the number of international and domestic flights are expected due to loosened COVID-19 restrictions.
Passengers were guided on the use of digitized health declaration and contact tracing processes at BPIA. Afterwards, OFWs were then directed to OWWA, while non-OFWs were referred to DOT to arrange their swab testing and accommodation. The BI conducted the final screening before deploying the passengers to separate buses.
The launch was successfully realized by DOTr and CAAP, in coordination with the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Tourism (DOT), Bureau of Immigration (BI), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Bohol Provincial Government Unit, and Panglao Local Government Unit.
The Bohol-Panglao International Airport follows the Laoag International Airport for implementing One Stop Shop for returning OFWs. (DOTr) -rir
