FILE PHOTO: Repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs arrive at an airport after being allowed to go home following weeks of quarantine amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines May 26, 2020. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
MANILA, Philippines — Migrante International on Saturday called on the government to provide assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who remained stranded due to travel restrictions imposed amid the surge in COVID-19 cases. According to Migrante, the recent entry ban to Hong Kong and Taiwan has been a challenge for OFWs and their families. “The rapid rise of COVID cases induced by the Omicron variant has tightened travel restrictions on thousands of overseas workers bound for Hong Kong from Jan. 16 to Feb. 15 this year,” Migrante said. Migrante urged the government to assist the affected OFWs by providing them with P10,000 “ayuda,” free temporary shelter in the National Capital Region, flight rebooking assistance, renewal fee exemption and free reverse transcription polymerase chain reactio test. —Tina G. Santos