By Ralph Lawrence Llemit, Davao Today Intern
DAVAO CITY – Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA – XI) Regional Director Eduardo Bellido urged the local government to strengthen the monitoring system and quarantine policy.
This, after eight Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who came from Sierra Leone, one of the most affected areas of the ebola outbreak, had slipped unnoticed at the Davao International Airport.
During the International Migration Day Forum held at Ateneo De Davao University last December 19, Bellido revealed that the OFWs took connecting flights from Singapore to Cebu, then landed in Davao city without undergoing quarantine procedures by the Bureau of Immigrations.
“In order to avoid being quarantined, they took connecting flight so that they could avoid landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila,” Bellido said.
The Department of Health had ordered last September a 21-day standard quarantine policy for incoming visitors who came from ebola-stricken countries.
Bellido said there should be close coordination between the City Health Office and concerned agencies such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency and the Bureau of Immigrations.
“We could only contain ebola as part of our preventive measure if we protect OFWs and migrants coming in from the ebola-stricken countries,” Bellido said. (davaotoday.com)
