Gov’t action needed for OFWs stuck in ‘filthy’ quarantine hotels

MANILA, Philippines — The government should act swiftly on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) reportedly being held under quarantine in “undignified conditions,” Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Friday.

The senator issued the call following a recent media report where some Filipino migrant workers decried a Quezon City hotel’s poor sanitation and unsatisfactory services.

The OFWs supposedly encountered dirty linen, insects on the hotel room floors, and brown water coming out of the hotel’s faucets.

“It is unacceptable that our OFWs in this time of crisis are forced to suffer these unhealthy, unhygienic and undignified conditions, and government should act swiftly and decisively to solve this problem,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

As of April 13, at least 13,000 OFWs, mostly seafarers, have been repatriated amid the coronavirus disease  (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Filipino repatriates were either transported to different facilities for their mandatory quarantine or are just required to undergo a home-based quarantine depending on the assessment of the Bureau of Quarantine.

Hontiveros said her office has already delivered food packages and hygiene kits to over a hundred OFWs staying in a designated quarantine hotel in Novaliches, Quezon City.

“Nagpadala po muna tayo ng paunang tulong para naman makakain at makapaglinis ng maayos ang ating mga OFWs na nasa hotel na ito,” she said.

EDV