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OWWA needs nearly P10-B to cover hotel quarantine cost of OFWs

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/03/11/20210201-covid-19-naia-health-protocol-md-3.jpg"/><figcaption>Passengers from international flights arrive at NAIA Terminal 2 on the first day of new quarantine protocols, February 1, 2021, amid the presence of the UK variant of COVID-19 in the country. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is asked Congress for an additional budget of nearly P10 billion to cover costs of returning Filipino migrant workers, an official said Thursday.</p><p>The rise in costs of the agency is due to the longer stay of returning overseas Filipino workers in quarantine facilities, according to OWWA administrator Hans Cacdac.</p><p>OFWs now stay in quarantine hotels between 7 to 9 days from 1-3 days previously as they await swab test results, Cacdac said.</p><p>The Department of Health had recommended that travelers from abroad be tested after their 6th day of quarantine following the detection of new variants of COVID-19.</p><p>&quot;We are good until the midyear point, May to June. Ito naman ay preemptive measure, hindi naman kami sasaklolo nang too late na,&quot; he told ABS-CBN&#x27;s Teleradyo.</p><p>(This is just a preventive measure, we don&#x27;t want to seek help when it&#x27;s too late.)</p><p>&quot;We are sounding the alarm signal early, assuming patuloy pa yung normal flow ng pagdating ng (OFWs), around 2,000 to 3,000 a day.&quot;</p><p>(We are sounding the alarm signal early, assuming the normal flow of OFW arrivals at 2,000 to 3,000 a day.)</p><p>Some 10,000 returning OFWs are staying in 140 quarantine hotels, Cacdac said.</p><p>Government pays a maximum of P3,000 to quarantine facilities even if it&#x27;s a 5-star hotel, he added.</p><p>&quot;Papalo na po this year sa P3.5 billion ang hotel cost natin. In the last few weeks, meron tayong na payout na P700 million so ongoing po ang ating pag-honor ng ating payables,&quot; he said.</p><p>(This year, our hotel cost is nearing P3.5 billion. In the last few weeks, we&#x27;ve paid out P700 million, so we continue to honor our payables.)</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1637430" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has asked Congress for an additional budget of nearly P10 billion to cover costs of returning Filipino migrant workers, an official said Thursday.</p>

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has asked Congress for an additional budget of nearly P10 billion to cover costs of returning Filipino migrant workers, an official said Thursday.