The return of more than 100 Ilonggo Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) stranded in Manila scheduled on April 14, 2020 has been aborted, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD-6).
This was disclosed by OCD-6’s Melissa Banias during the meeting of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. with the COVID-19 Task Force and municipal mayors on Monday, April 13, at Casa Real de Iloilo.
The governor and the municipal mayors wrote the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines today to oppose the transport of these migrant workers.
This after one Ilonggo OFW included in the batch that arrived from Cebu on April 9 tested positive for COVID-19.
Defensor said he understands the OFWs wanting to return home but he said it may pose potential spread of the virus.
“We like to see our OFWs home with their families but allowing them to come home at this time only increases the risk of more COVID-19 cases in the province of Iloilo, puts the safety of their own families at risk, and further extends the deadline of our enhanced community quarantine,” he said.
These OFWs are some of the Ilonggos in Manila who cannot go home due to the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine.
As of April 13, Iloilo Province records 15 COVID-19 cases, including 4 deaths.LHC/Capitol news
Photo from RMN-Iloilo
