Returning non-OFWs to shoulder cost of quarantine accommodation — Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Returning Filipinos to the country who are not overseas workers will have to shoulder their expenses in government quarantine facilities, Malacañang said Monday.

The cost for coronavirus testing, meanwhile, will be shouldered by PhilHealth, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online press briefing.

“Kung kayo po ay isang OFW, iyan po ay libre, babayaran ng OWWA [Overseas Workers Welfare Administration]. Kung kayo po ay hindi OFW, kayo po ang magbabayad ng quarantine facility,” Roque said.

Roque did not go into detail about the cost of being placed under quarantine in the government facilities.

He said this was among the guidelines for testing all arriving overseas Filipinos and foreign nationals.

They will undergo testing for coronavirus and will be placed under quarantine in government facilities while waiting for results, Roque explained.

“Pagkalabas po ng resulta at ikaw ay positive, diretso po sa ospital o di naman ay sa We Heal as One Center,” Roque said.

(If the result is positive, they will go straight to hospitals or to a We Heal as One Center.)

If the individual is negative for the coronavirus, Roque said they may return home while assisted by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) or local government units.

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