MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Labor and Employment recently sent home 2,667 overseas Filipino workers to their respective provinces after having been cleared of COVID-19, the agency said Wednesday.
The repatriated OFWs are required to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine and should test negative for the virus before they are transported home.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said his office has now sent home a total of 136,509 repatriated OFWs, who were also given a package of DOLE assistance.
In coordination with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, DOLE provided the OFWs with accommodation, food, transportation, and COVID-19 testing upon their arrival in the Philippines.
DOLE also extended a one-time cash aid of P10,000 or $200 under Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) program to the OFWs.
Bello also welcome President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval of an additional P5 billion fund intended to help the OFWs who have been affected by COVID-19.
Additional funding will be used to boost the AKAP program and help the repatriation of more OFWs.
To help with international employment, Bello said that Guam intends to hire more skilled Filipino workers in the construction and maintenance job categories.
The business process outsourcing companies in the Philippines are also looking to employ OFWs who were repatriated, especially those with backgrounds in information technology and healthcare.