Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 9) — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is asking Congress for an additional ₱4.2 billion for the repatriation of Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs until December 31, 2021.
OWWA chief Hans Cacdac said the Labor department requested ₱7.5B supplemental funding, and so far, it received ₱3.3B.
“Ito pong nilabas ng Budget department would only last until the last week of September,” Cacdac said.
[Translation: The budget released by the DBM would only last until last week of September]
The OWWA chief added that more OFWs are expected to come home now that the Christmas season has started in the country.
“We are expecting a deluge of OFWs come Christmas time lalo na ‘yung mga hindi nakauwi last year, ngayon po sila makakauwi ngayong kapaskuhan,” he added.
[Translation: We are expecting a deluge of OFWs on Christmas time especially those who were not able to come home last year. These OFWs will try go home this Christmas]
Cacdac said the funds are quickly depleted due to changes in the hotel quarantine requirements of arriving OFWs as part of their country’s border control policy.
“Tumaas po ang [There was an increase in] hotel quarantine period from 1-3 days to 7-14 days at one point,” Cacdac said.
In an interview with CNN Philippines last week, Cacdac said around 10,500 OFWs are currently in hotel quarantine facilities nationwide.
Of the number, 8,500 are isolated in 178 facilities in Metro Manila.
