DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – All overseas Filipinos are entitled to free Covid-19 swab test, hotel quarantine and transportation for home whether they are documented or not, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Chief Hans Leo J. Cacdac said.
Cacdac made this clarification due to apparent confusion among stranded OFWs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) about whether they qualify for the Covid protocol when they get back home either on their own or through the government’s repatriation program.
“Returning OFWs po are free sa swab testing po upon arrival sa airports,” Cacdac said.
He added: “(A)ng tanong po ba ay kung libre ang swab testing, hotel quarantine at transportation to home regions ng mga umuuwing OFWs, whether documented or undocumented? Yes po.”
The question has often been raised in OFW Facebook discussion groups in the UAE, among them the “Stranded OFWs in Dubai with Ticket in Philippine Airlines,” which was formed around June this year and has, as of last count, some 1,300 members; and the “UAE Stranded OFWs via Emirates Airlines,” established around the same time which now has close to 1,000 members.
The Facebook accounts were opened by concerned OFWs to serve as a clearing house for fellow OFWs having issues with their plans to return home, like canceled flights and as well the swab tests, hotel quarantine and ride home.
Some had to rely on word from those who have made it home or through the Philippine embassy and consulate in the UAE. Despite this, however, the question keeps popping up.
Among such inquiries, for instance, involved a former documented OFW who is on “Husband Visa,” meaning her stay is sponsored by her husband, and is now going home to the Philippines for good.
Another is from an OFW who said she “never had a chance to be a member of OWWA but has a (UAE) residence visa,” which means she was employed.
“Will quarantine and test still be provided for by OWWA?” the OFW asked, to which she got vague replies.
Not covered by the free Covid-19 protocol are those who arrived in the UAE on a visit visa and have not been able to secure employment, officials said.
Repatriation
Meantime, some 221 Filipinos, including children and at least two infants, were the latest batch to be flown home to Manila from Dubai, according to Consul General Paul Raymund Cortes, who said they were repatriated on Sept. 24 aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR 0659. It arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 8:25am the following day.
Cortes said with the latest batch of OFs flown home, the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai has so far facilitated the repatriation of 2,233 Filipinos in Dubai and the Northern Emirates affected by the pandemic.
The Philippine Consulate General repatriated the first batch of distressed OFWs, numbering 370, in mid-June via Cebu Pacific flight 5J 19.
The most recent repatriation involved some 354 OFWs who left Dubai International Airport on the night of Aug. 5 via Philippine Airlines flight PR 659. Another batch of over 300 left on July 30 and still another on July 24 with 351 OFWs, according to Cortes.
There were approximately 750,000 documented OFWs in the UAE prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. Over 15,000 have been repatriated, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. (DFA).
The Daily Bread 