Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 3) — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Tuesday said around 200 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) are still in hotels waiting for their rebooked flights after a technical glitch disrupted the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s operations on New Year’s Day.
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Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, DMW Undersecretary Hans Cacdac said from Jan. 1 onwards, the government has provided hotel accommodations for at least 400 OFWs who have different rebooked flight schedules.
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“We still have, by my estimate, maybe half of the 400 still in hotels waiting for their rebooked flights,” he said. “I know some or many have rebooked flights dates on the (January) 4th, 5th, and the 6th.”
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Cacdac said on Jan. 1, the DMW was able to assist around 3,000 migrant workers affected by the technical issue. Aside from hotel accommodation, other assistance provided was in terms of rebooking of flights, which was done the same day, and providing food packs.
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“On January 2nd, upon instructions also of (DMW) Secretary Toots (Ople), I returned yesterday and the number of OFWs needing assistance was far, far less than 3,000,” he said.
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For those who still need help, Cacdac said they may reach out to the department’s hotline 1348.
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Meanwhile, the DMW official said they are currently locating an OFW who said she was at risk of losing her job since she was not able to return to Hong Kong on time.
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Based on information the DMW has so far gathered, the OFW first failed to board a flight even prior to the Jan. 1 incident, then was offloaded from another flight after that, Cacdac said.
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“We have the name, but apparently based on our records we have talked to the persons with the same name and they all said that they were not the OFW involved,” he said. “As we locate her, let me say that we have been working closely with the airlines in terms of rebooking.”
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In the first advisory it issued this year, the DMW also ordered all private recruitment agencies (PRAs) and licensed manning agencies (LMAs) to assist OFWs, including in ensuring their employment is unaffected by the disrupted airport operations.
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The department said the agencies should help explain the cause of delays to employers.
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