Palace to Migrante: Returning OFWs receive VIP, not ‘garbage-like’ treatment

MANILA, Philippines — Returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are not receiving “garbage-like” treatment” but are being treated like VIPs, Malacañang shot back at labor group Migrante International on Saturday.

“Inuwi lahat natin ang ating mangagawa natin, binigyan po natin sila ng libreng PCR testing, binigyan natin ng libreng pamasahe sa eroplano, sa bus at sa barko,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said during the Laging Handa online press briefing.

(We took our workers home, we also gave them free PCR testing, we also gave them free transportation by planes, buses, and ships.)

“Hindi po yan garbage-like treatment, VIP treatment po ‘yan (That is not garbage-like treatment. That is VIP treatment),” he added.

This comes after Migrante International, in a statement on Friday, accused the Duterte administration of shabbily treating returning OFWs who were affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“What could be much worse than the Duterte government’s imminent extortion of OFWs through the resumption of the mandatory Philhealth and premium rate hike three days from now?” Migrante International said.

“Migrante International calls on President (Rodrigo) Duterte to put a stop on this daylight robbery and focus on helping Filipino migrants at this period of crisis. OFWs are likewise appealing to OWWA to constantly provide their necessities like food, water, toiletries and comfortable waiting areas at the airport,” the statement further read.

Roque said that as of Saturday, 22,426 OFWs have safely returned home to their hometowns.

Previously, Duterte ordered the Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and the Department of Health to send home 24,000 OFWs who remain in quarantine facilities and are awaiting their COVID-19 test results.

/MUF