Pacquiao eyeing medical team for Hong Kong OFWs amid COVID-19 surge

Senator Manny Pacquiao. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday said he wants to deploy a medical team to Hong Kong amid a new COVID-19 surge in the Chinese special administrative region.

Pacquiao said he is concerned by the situation of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there, some of whom have been reportedly forced to spent nights on the streets  after employers found out that they contracted COVID-19.

“If the Hong Kong government will allow it, then we will send a team with a doctor para maasikaso ang ating mga kababayan doon at hindi lamang tutulungan dahil may sakit na COVID kundi maging sa anumang pangangailangan nilang medikal,” he said in a press release.

(If the Hong Kong government will allow it, then we will send a team with a doctor so that we can assist our countrymen there, not only for COVID-19 concerns but also other medical issues.)

“Nararapat lamang na ipakita ng ating pamahalaan ang pag-aaruga sa ating mga manggagawang naghihirap sa ibang bansa para maitaguyod nila ang kanilang pamilya ng maayos at mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan. Huwag nating kalimutan na malaki ang inaambag nila sa ating bayan,” he added.

(It is just right that we look after our OFWs who are toiling in other countries so that they can support their families and give them a brighter future. Let’s not forget their contributions to the country.)

The world-renowned boxer-turned-politician gave recognition to the enormous contributions of OFWs to the country with the local economy being kept afloat in recent years through their dollar remittances.

“Malaki ang natutulong nila (OFWs) sa ating ekonomiya at kung wala sila ay baka bumagsak na ang ating bansa sa matinding inflation at recession. Dapat ay ipinakita natin ang pag-aaruga sa kanila at pagmamahal,” he said.

(OFWs contribute enormously to out economy and if it weren’t for them, our country may  have already been brought down by inflation and recession. We should show them our care and love.)

OFWs in Hong Kong who got infected in the ongoing COVID-19 surge in the Chinese special administrative region have appealed for immediate government assistance after some of them were fired by their employers.

With their employment contracts terminated and with no employment visa, a number of COVID-positive OFWs were reportedly denied admission to hospitals.

gsg