By Pearl Gumapos
Some 591,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) repatriated through government efforts from March 2020 to June 22 this year have been sent to their homes, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
A total of 591,063 Filipino workers whose jobs were affected by the COVID-19 virus have been transported home, mostly to the regions.This year, 109,354 returnees have returned to their homes, in addition to last year’s 391,709.
Upon the OFWs’ arrival in the country, they proceeded to quarantine facilities where they stayed until the results of their swab tests were released. Those with negative results were taken to their final destinations.
The OWWA requested from the Department of Budget and Management an additional P5.2 billion to fund the repatriation program this year.
The program is conducted in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment, Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Transportation, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of National Defense, and Department of Health. – jlo
