By Marisol Bo-oc, J. Jala | 10:13 PM May 04, 2020
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who will return to Bohol have been barred from entering the island.
Bohol Governor Arthur Yap said Monday that the temporary ban on the entry of OFWs bound for Bohol was to allow authorities to make “a definitive finding on the condition of the first batch of returning OFWs.”
“I have sent messages to Sec. Eduardo Año of the DILG, Covid TF Chief Implementor Sec. Carlito Galvez, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Health Secretary Francisco Duque, to temporarily suspend the repatriation program until at least we can make a definitive finding on the condition of this first batch of returning OFWs,” he said.
“I also asked them to make sure that we will be requiring individual and certified negative
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests results for each returning OFW, completion of their 14 day quarantine, additional Rapid Tests, as conditions for being accepted home to Bohol,” he added.
Yap, in a radio interview on Tuesday, May 4, said the province is obliged to accept returning Boholanos.
“Obligasyon nato dawaton silang tanan. This is the way to show unity in hardship,” Yap said in Capitol radio program over dyTR.
At least 48 OFWs who were stranded in Manila returned to Bohol last April 28. However, their return was marred by controversies after one of them complained about the poor room accommodation at a designated quarantine facility.
Three days after, at least 25 of the 48 OFWs were transferred to a quarantine facility in a resort in Panglao.
The controversial Boholano seaman posted a public apology for his quarantine rant that drew flak.
