MANILA, Philippines — Local government units (LGUs) are encouraged to allow returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to undertake home quarantine instead of isolating them in other facilities, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Wednesday.
“We will encourage all local government units na sa mga OFWs, negative naman ‘yan, na home quarantine na lang,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said over dzMM when asked about concerns raised by some local executives voicing the need to provide additional quarantine for returning OFWs.
Año said some LGUs, especially those with zero cases of COVID-19, can impose additional quarantine.
“Normally, nag-i-impose ng ganyan yung (LGUs) mga tinatawag nating zero COVID-19 cases. Maraming island provinces na may zero COVID cases so talagang panigurado lang nila,” he said.
(Normally, those that impose home quarantine are those with zero COVID-19 cases. There are many island provinces that have zero COVID cases so they are just being cautious.)
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier ordered LGUs to accept Filipino migrant workers to return to their homes, as only the national government can impose travel bans.
Earlier, DILG said they will issue show cause order against LGUs who will fail to accept returning OFWs.
Authorities said over 24,000 OFWs in quarantine facilities, who tested negative for the coronavirus, are expected to return to their homes.
EDV
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