MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday vowed to act on the reported delay in the release of the results of coronavirus tests taken by repatriated overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs).
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace will ask the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) for an inventory of repatriated OFWs who reportedly complained of having to endure a longer stay in the quarantine facilities beyond the mandatory 14-day isolation period due to the delay in their COVID-19 test results.
“We will look into this now and we will ask OWWA for an inventory, lalong-lalo na kung ilan na ‘yung nag-aantay ng napakatagal na resulta and really ask ‘yung mga laboratories, ‘kaya niyo ba o hindi?’ We will do that po,” Roque said in a televised Palace briefing.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reportedly said that some 7,100 OFWs quarantined in ships have been tested for the coronavirus and are awaiting health clearance.
The delay in the release of test results has prompted some OFWs to leave the quarantine facilities pending clearance from health authorities.