(FILE Photo) Repatriation flights continue for OFWs who are stranded abroad because of various reasons, including COVID restrictions in their places of work.
MANILA, Philippines — The number of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) quarantined in isolation facilities is now only over 1,000, a significant drop during the Omicron-driven surge, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said Thursday.
OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac said a total of 1,582 OFWs are currently quarantined in hotels.
“That is a drastic reduction from 7,000 two weeks ago. Noong kasagsagan ng Omicron at nagkaroon pa ng pagkaantala ng biyahe due to Typhoon Odette, umabot ng mga halos 14,000,” he said in a Laging Handa public briefing.
(During the Omicron-driven surge and when there was a delay in flights due to Typhoon Odette, quarantined OFWs reached as many as 14,000.)
Cacdac said only unvaccinated or partially vaccinated OFWs are required to undergo facility-based quarantine, which accounts for about 10% of the arrivals.
The number of returning OFWs is expected to further increase as the government continues to ease pandemic restrictions for inbound travelers.
The government earlier temporarily lifted the mandatory quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated travelers.
“Asahan natin na mas dadami ang uuwing mga OFWs,” Cacdac said.
(Let us expect that many more OFWs will come home.)
He said OWWA is ready should the government decide to reimpose the mandatory quarantine even for fully vaccinated travelers.
“We are on guard. We will always be ready. We stand ready in the event na ibalik ‘yung mandatory quarantine,” Cacdac said.
“Sana hindi na ibalik. As much as possible bigyan ng mas maraming panahon ang ofws with their families,” he added.
(We hope it will not be reinstated anymore. Let’s give our OFWs more time with their families.)