By J. Jala | 11:07 PM May 7, 2020
Bohol Governor Arthur Yap said Thursday that at least 61 returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will return to Bohol on Friday, May 8.
Of the 61 returning OFWs, three (3) were straight from Manila while 58 have been stranded and on quarantine in Cebu.
In an updated statement on Thursday night, May 7, Yap said he was disappointed on the failure of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to coordinate with the province about the mercy voyage carrying over 230 repatriated seafarers that will arrive in Cebu on Friday, May 8, 2020.
He said his request for a one week advanced warning for any returning OFWs was ignored.
He said an official of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) told him that the DILG found out only this morning, that there were 230 OFWs bound for Cebu tomorrow violating as well their 72 hour protocol for advanced coordination.
These returning OFWs will be certified as Covid negative from their PCR tests and will have completed a 14 day quarantine.
He said OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac also called to confirm that of the 230 returning OFWs, only three are from Bohol.
OWWA Cebu also confirmed to the PEMA Secretariat that they will try to send home at least 58 returning OFWs who have been quarantined in Cebu and tested negative on a PCR Test.
“So tomorrow, May 8, we are looking at about sixty-one (61) returning OFWs,” Yap said.
He said the provincial government is arranging and coordinating the quarantine facilities with the Department of Tourism, the Department of Health (DOH) and the DILG.
At least 48 OFWs stranded in Manila and 17 OFWs stranded in Cebu arrived in Bohol last April 28 who were housed in a quarantine facilities.
