Año reminds LGUs to allow OFWs headed for quarantine to pass

April 23, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday reminded Local Government Units (LGU) to allow Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) going to quarantine facilities to pass through their areas.

In a radio interview, Año said preventing OFWs from going to quarantine facilities is violation of the Bayanihan Heal As One Act.

“First of all, residents should not stop them because there is a resolution on IATF (Interagency Task Force)… LGUs know that we have a protocol when it comes to dealing with OFWs,” he said.

Based on IATF resolution, OFWs returning home should undergo 14 day quarantine in their designated quarantine facilities before they will be allowed to go home.

“Supposedly the coordination must be with the governor and the municipal mayor on the areas where they are going… that is the usual coordination,” Año said.

Año made the statement after buses carrying around 300 OFWs going to a quarantine facility in Lian, Batangas were stopped by  residents despite showing a DILG memorandum.

Año said the memo showed by the regional director should be enough for them to allowed entry.

“LGUs should not stop our OFWs… we need to support them,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS