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MANILA, Philippines – More than 4,000 Repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) are currently stranded in different quarantine facilities in Metro Manila due to the delay in the release of swab results following the interruption of testing services for COVID-19 from the Philippine Red Cross (PRC).
According to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, only around 300 OFW have been sent to their home provinces on a daily basis since the People’s Republic of China stopped their testing services. This is much lower than the usual daily average of 1,000 to 3,000.
“In a way, they are now stranded. We are going back to neighboring areas to find quarantine hotels for them, ”Bello said Tuesday at a televised press conference at Palace.
“Right now we are talking about at least 4,000 plus (OFW) stranded in Metro Manila,” he added.
Since October 16, the People’s Republic of China has stopped testing Filipino workers arriving abroad, passengers at airports and seaports, individuals requesting tests for COVID-19 at the swabbing facilities of the government, frontline health and government workers, and others included in the Department of Health’s expanded testing guidelines.
The humanitarian organization said these services cannot resume until Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) pays its past due balance of P930.99 million.
READ: Red Cross stops testing on PhilHealth debt
“The sooner this payment problem is resolved, the better for our OFWs and the better for our government’s finances. Ang laking problem niyan (This is a big problem) ”, he said.
In a recorded speech broadcast Monday night, President Duterte assured that the government will pay PhilHealth’s debt.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque also said the government will pay off at least half of PhilHealth’s debt “as soon as possible.”
When asked how soon, Roque said: “I wish I could say within the day but always po may mga papers naman na ginagawa. But I can assure you that at least half of that will be paid as soon as possible. “
The People’s Republic of China has played a key role in detecting COVID-19 in the country. It has performed more than a million coronavirus tests, which represents more than 25% of the total coronavirus tests performed nationwide.
JE
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