CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Forty-six Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Northern Mindanao have arrived here from Luzon on Thursday, April 30, and some of them will have to undergo another round of quarantine before they are allowed to go back home.
The OFWs arrived at the Macabalan port this city past midnight and were fetched by the city government’s health cluster. It was not immediately known what countries the returning workers came from or what their jobs were.
Dr. Magdalena Juan, a member of the health cluster, said that 20 of the OFWs are from this city while 10 of them are from Gingoog City, Medina, Initao, Manticao, and Naawan towns in Misamis Oriental, and Manolo Fortich town in Bukidnon.
Juan said 16 of the repatriated workers were escorted to their respective hometowns while the rest were housed in various isolation units in the city.
“We are processing them and we are in close coordination with the city’s humanitarian cluster for their accommodation,” she said.
Juan said the OFWs have completed the 14-day quarantine and all of them have tested negative for the coronavirus, based on the documents they carried. But she said those who are subjected to the second round of quarantine will be staying at the isolation units for free and will be taken care of by medical health professionals.
Balik-probinsya
The OFWs’ return was conducted through the “Balik Probinsiya” of the national government.
Juan said all personnel such as nurses and social workers assigned at the isolation centers are now ready to accommodate the group for the duration of their stay. Those who will be put in isolation would be given medical services and would take part in structured daily activities.
Mayor Oscar Moreno said the returning OFWs deserve to be taken care of by the government as they are considered the “Bagong Bayani” (new heroes).
Sweeper flight
Meanwhile, 69 foreign tourists were flown out of Mindanao, the Department of Tourism-10 (DOT-10) said Thursday, April 30.
The Philippine Airlines Bombardier Dash 8 plane carrying the foreigners left Laguindingaan Airport in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental at 4:10 PM Wednesday, April 29.
The Australian Embassy has spearheaded the sweeper flight, but other foreign nationals who have return tickets were also accommodated, the department shared.
As of April 29, DOT-10 has coordinated seven sweeper flight operations and has repatriated a total of 477 tourists. (davaotoday.com)
