Govt still bringing home Pinoys from nations with Delta variants

GOVERNMENT repatriation efforts of Filipinos in other countries, which have the Delta variant of Covid-19, are still ongoing despite the existing travel ban in the said areas.

Malacañang issued the statement amid the concerns of some stranded Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the slowpace of their repatriation.

Some of the affected Filipinos were reported to be running out of funds to meet daily needs while waiting to be brought home.

“Filipinos covered by the repatriation programs of the government and repatriation activities of manning and/or recruitment agencies cleared by the Bureau of Quarantine are not prohibited from entering the Philippines,” Presidential Spokesman Herminio “Harry” L. Roque said.

“They can enter the country, subject to testing and quarantine protocols,” Roque added.

Last Friday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also assured the stranded Filipinos will be given the necessary aid by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in UAE.

Precautionary measure

THE government first issued a travel restriction for India last April after the country of almost 2 billion registered the first-ever case of the Delta variant.

The travel restriction was later expanded to include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, UAE and Oman, while its initial 15-day duration was extended until June 30, 2021.

“The abovementioned variant, first detected in India, is more transmissible as seen in the experience of other countries, thus there is a need for continued vigilance,” Roque said.

In a related development, a total of 347 distressed Filipinos were finally repatriated following the arrival of the special delegation led by Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Robert Borje in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Borje was sent by President Rodrigo R. Duterte to the KSA to “advance labor reform cooperation and ensuring the welfare of Filipinos in the Arab country.”

In a statement, Borje said the repatriated OFWS will be given a P10,000 reintegration financial aid upon their arrival.

Another batch of OFWS from KSA are also expected to be repatriated next week.

The special delegation will be in KSA until June 24, 2021 after meeting with Saudi officials and the Filipino community in the Middle East country.