(REUTERS)
MANILA, Philippines — The government is extending assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who tested positive for COVID-19 in Hong Kong, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Monday.
Nograles said that the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (Polo) in Hong Kong (HK) provided 28 OFWs with food, hygiene kits, and power banks “to allow them to communicate while waiting for calls from the Center for Health Protection” and the special administrative region’s labor department.
Polo likewise worked to provide an isolation facility for the COVID-stricken OFWs.
“In addition to this, our POLO coordinated with a non-government organization to provide an isolation facility to accommodate several of our OFWs,” Nograles said in a statement.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso)
“It also coordinated with the HK Labour Department, which set up an isolation facility for our kababayans (fellow Filipinos), pending admission to the quarantine facility, apart from providing transportation arrangements,” the acting presidential spokesperson added.
Financial assistance will also be extended to COVID patients.
“POLO has also provided US$200 for after care financial assistance to those who recovered from COVID-19,” said Nograles.
“The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will also provide US$200 for each COVID-positive OFW,” he continued.
Of the 28 OFWs in Hong Kong who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, five have already recovered.