BUTUAN CITY, May 30 (PIA) -- With the help of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Caraga and other concerned government agencies, some 92 OFWs who were stranded in the National Capital Region and Cebu City since March of this year have safely arrived in Caraga region.
According to OWWA-Caraga regional director Ma. Irene Cambaling, these 92 OFWs have undergone the required health protocols including the rapid testing from their place of origin that yielded negative results for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
OWWA then facilitated the necessary documents for the travel of these OFWs back to their provinces in Caraga.
Onboard the M/V St. Francis Xavier of 2G0 Shipping, health workers have carefully assisted the 92 repatriated OFWs as they arrived at the Nasipit Port, Agusan del Norte. The personnel from different concerned agencies such as the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Philippine National Police (PNP), among others also conducted the required protocols and other preventive measures.
The local government units (LGUs) also provided vehicles to transport the OFWs who have long been wanting to go home and be with their families.
Algi Mark Casiñero, one of the repatriated OFWs who is from the province of Surigao del Norte, thanked the government for their immediate response to their request to go home in Caraga with their families, and for providing cash assistance during this pandemic.
Director Cambaling also called on other OFWs who are still stranded in other regions to closely coordinate with their respective LGUs, so they would be given the certificate of acceptance as one of the requirements in their travel back to Caraga region.
They may also directly contact the OWWA regional office hotline (0917-3150590) or send them their personal details through the official Facebook account of OWWA Caraga.
The official added that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and OWWA have already put in place the needed assistance for the OFWs whose work abroad was temporarily suspended due to the pandemic.
These OFWs who arrived in Caraga region will again undergo the 14-day quarantine following the directive of their respective LGUs.
Meanwhile, with the intensified implementation of the Balik Probinsya Program, more of the Caraganon OFWs are expected to arrive in the region in the coming days. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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