OFWs bound for China, Hong Kong, Macau not yet allowed to return to their work – BI

February 3, 2020

Overseas Filipino workers who are just vacationing in the country would not be allowed to immediately return to their work in China, Hong Kong or Macau as part of the measure to prevent the spread of deadly novel coronavirus.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval expressed belief that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration would ensure that the OFWs could still keep their jobs abroad.

"Also part of the ban is the departure of Filipinos going to China and its Special Administrative Regions. The ban does not specify exceptions; hence all Filipinos regardless of visa type will be barred from travelling to China and its Special Administrative Regions temporarily," she said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the temporary ban of foreigners coming from China and its special administrative regions. Filipinos are likewise barred from traveling to mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau which are all heavily affected by coronavirus.

Asked what would happen to the jobs of the Filipinos who were not allowed to return to their work abroad, Sandoval said, "We fully understand, because if that is their livelihood. But I believe the POEA and the OWWA will be doing their part in ensuring that the job of our fellowmen abroad will remain despite this travel ban."

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs is monitoring the coronavirus outbreak and to ensure the well-being and protection of the overseas Filipinos, particularly those in China.

"No Filipinos in China are confirmed to be infected with the 2019 nCoV acute respiratory disease – none," said DFA Undersecretary Ernesto Abella. 

There are 295,047 Filipino in mainland China. 

"The Philippine embassy and six Philippine consulates general in China continue to issue timely advisories through the official websites and social media like WeChat," Abella said.

He said that 40 Filipinos in Hubei, where nCoV originated, in China would be repatriated soon.

The aircraft that would fetch the Filipinos from Hubei would leave this week, Abella said.

"A rapid response team from DFA-OUMWA (Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs) along with five to seven medical personnel from DoH maybe deployed to fetch the Filipino repatriates. DoH has drafted guidelines for the repatriation," he said. Celerina Monte/DMS