PRESIDENT Duterte finally approved on Wednesday the release of the additional P5.2 billion for the repatriation expenses of overseas Filipino workers (OFW), according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In an online press briefing, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said he was informed by the Office of the President of the approval.
He noted the release came out at an opportune time since they were not immediately able to settle the payment of the some bills in the hotel accommodations of OFWs.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) had earlier requested for an additional P9.8 billion to help pay for its growing expenses for hotel accommodations for OFWs after the government extended the quarantine period of inbound travelers.
The prolonged stay of OFWs in hotel accommodations quickly drained OWWA’s P11-billion budget for it. Bello said they may still request for an additional budget for quarantine accommodation in case more OFWs still request for repatriation in coming months.
As of May 26, 2021, he said the government was able to repatriate 556,000 OFWs since the onset of the pandemic last year.
To help minimize the accommodation expenses for OFWs, the Department of Tourism (DOT) proposed that government reduce to less than seven days the quarantine period of travelers who are already vaccinated.
Bello said he fully supports the DOT recommendation, which could help reduce their accommodation expenses. He hopes it will be approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
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