MANILA, Philippines—A total of 107 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia succumbed to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) but Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the remains may be buried in the kingdom and not here in the Philippines.
In an interview with Radyo Inquirer Wednesday, Bello said 287 Filipinos have died in Saudi Arabia. The other 180 did not die of COVID-19.
Bello added that they will talk to the families of the 107 OFWs who died of COVID-19 about the possibility of burial in Saudi Arabia to prevent contamination.
According to Bello, the spread of COVID-19 will be greater if the remains are transported to the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the remains of the other 180 OFWs who died of other causes, can be brought back to the Philippines if the Department of Transportation, Bello said, gets the necessary clearance with two cargo planes ready to fly to Saudi Arabia this weekend.
Bello added that the government of Saudi Arabia has allowed the request of the Philippines for additional time to repatriate the remains of the deceased OFWs.
/MUF