According to Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s Hans Cacdac, around 9,000 OFWs have been sent home since last week, as the agency continues to arrange more flights.
Cacdac told CNN Philippines’ News.PH on Tuesday, that the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to send home 24,000 stranded OFWs in Metro Manila, greatly helped in their transport efforts.
“With the presidential directive, na-heighten ‘yong pagsasagawa ng charter flights [the organization of charter flights was heightened]. We mounted 18 yesterday, and we mount about the same number today,” he said.
Cacdac added that the number of provincial buses has also doubled, and more sea vessels will sail starting on Wednesday.
He noted that there were a couple of challenges that halted the repatriation of the OFWs, including undergoing the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine, swab testing, and the delays in the issuance of quarantine clearances.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) — More stranded overseas Filipino workers have been brought home, while charter flights are continually being arranged after the president ordered the immediate repatriation of stranded OFWs.
OWWA assured to bring home all the stranded OFWs back to their provinces.
“We’re booking flights for people who cannot be booked at the moment. And we will book some more flights in charter voyages till everybody leaves,” Cacdac said.
Duterte reminded local government units to welcome returning OFWs as he met with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Monday night.
“Hindi naman sila lahat nagkasakit [not all of the OFWs have the virus]. It is very cruel actually to deny them to go home,” he said.
