OWWA: Short quarantine for inbound OFWs can save money

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said Sunday that the shortening of quarantine period for inbound OFWs is a welcome development as it would cut on expenses. In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Cacdac pointed out a number of advantages with the shortening of the isolation period. He said that many OFWs are already fully vaccinated, and who want to be reunited with their families. Also, the policy would slash on OWWA expenses for OFWs' stay in facilities. "Maraming mga OFW ay fully vaccinated na ... gusto na rin nilang makapiling ang kanilang pamilya, at syempre yung gastos sa isolation facilities," he said. He noted that at present there are 9,859 OFWs in hotel isolation facilities in the National Capital Region and neighboring provinces, and about 12,000 to 13,000 nationwide. Earlier the government allowed fully-vaccinated travelers from countries on the "green" or ''yellow" lists to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of the their negative COVD-19 swab test. Pressed on OWWA's fund for assistance to distressed OFWs, Cacdac said that livelihood assistance to pandemic-hit OFWs, and scholarship grants for their qualified children still continue. "Patuloy pa rin ang livelihood assistance, at scholarship ng mga anak ng OFWs na naapektuhan ng COVID-19 (livelihood assistance and scholarship grants continue), he said. Also, the Department of Labor's Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (DOLE-AKAP) program, which provides for a one-time financial assistance of P10,000, is still ongoing. But he said that OWWA is still waiting for fresh funds because the P5.2-billion fund for the program has already been spent. "Nag-a-antabay tayo kasi ang pondo ngayon na so far P5.2B ay naipamahagi na ng OWWA at ng DOLE" (We're waiting for the funds from Bayanihan 3 as the P5.2-B funds for the program has been used up). Then we will jumpstart the DOLE-AKAP. Moreover, he said they are continuously accepting applications until the fund becomes available. —LBG, GMA News

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