43 Bicolano workers stranded in Manila now traveling to Albay

MANILA, Philippines – At least 43 workers from the Bicol Region who were stranded in Metro Manila after the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to COVID-19 are now traveling to Albay province.

This was after the workers, who temporarily took shelter at the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran, Parañaque, completed their 14-day quarantine.

According to Ako Bikol Rep. Elizaldy Co, required clearances from the provincial government have already been given to the workers.  Their transportation was shouldered by resort management in Bicol Region, while the party-list group handed food packs to the workers.

“Today, I’m happy to share the good news that our stranded ‘kababayans’ will soon be reunited with their families,” Co said in a statement.

“I thank the workers, too, for their cooperation and full compliance with strict infection control measures while we at AKB were making all the arrangements and seeking necessary approvals to send them home safely,” he added.

After the government was forced to place the entire of Luzon under the ECQ, work for all sectors except frontline services was halted.  Mass transportation was also suspended, forcing workers to walk for long distances just to reach their homes.

One of the notable stories came from a group of construction workers, who were forced to walk from Valenzuela City up to Tarlac after the ECQ was enforced.

As of now, the ECQ over Luzon is still in place to curb the rise in COVID-19 cases.  Department of Health said that there are now 5,660 COVID-19 patients, 362 of which have died while at least 435 recovered from the disease.

Worldwide, over 2.06 million individuals have been infected, while 134,216 have died from the disease and 513,820 have recovered from it.