MANILA, Philippines — All overseas Filipinos returning to the country are required to undergo quarantine in government isolation facilities or hotels accredited by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), according to the COVID-19 Sub-Task Group for the Repatriation of OFWs.
“Please be advised that all repatriated OFWs and non-OFWs are required to undergo mandatory quarantine in any government quarantine facility or hotel accredited by the BOQ until they receive their RT-PCR test results proving them to be negative for COVID-19,” the sub-task group said in a statement posted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Facebook on Monday.
“Please disregard all previous announcements regarding home quarantine for returning OFWs or non-OFWs,” it added.
The PCG earlier reportedly said that based on the advisory of the sub-task group, all Filipinos arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, including seafarers and non-OFWs, will have to undergo home quarantine right after a swab test if they live within Metro Manila.
As of May 31, some 24,028 repatriated OFWshave been sent home after staying in different quarantine facilities, according to Malacañang.
Figures released by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), however, showed that over 25,000 have so far been sent home to their home provinces.
The return of the OFWs to their home provinces was in compliance with President Duterte’s order to concerned government agencies to expedite their release from quarantine sites in Metro Manila.