Revilla seeks Senate review on government's repatriation efforts for OFWs

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. has called for a joint-panel Senate investigation on the government's repatriation of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Revilla said the inquiry is aimed at addressing the loopholes in the repatriation process of concerned government agencies given the anticipated influx of displaced OFWs, especially those stranded in different parts of the world since the onset of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

"There is a pressing need to accelerate and expedite the repatriation process and maximize all available resources and systems to bring home all the stranded OFWs abroad," Revilla said in filing Senate Resolution 448.

"The repatriation process must be systematic and holistic that it will bring the OFWs right in front of the doorsteps of their homes without undue delay and unnecessary difficulties," the senator added.

Revilla's resolution seeks to direct the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, joint with the Foreign Relations Committee.

Hopefully, Revilla said, the results of the inquiry will help in the effective and expeditious implementation government's repatriation efforts.

"The anguish of waiting, the torment of being away from their families, the financial and employment anxieties, the uncertainty of events and of the future, among many other considerations, affect their health not only physically but also mentally and emotionally," the senator said.

Recently, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was quoted in news reports saying that only 1,000 to 2,000 repatriated OFWs will be accepted in airports and the maximum stay in quarantine facilities in Manila could be five days or even less.

Revilla said the effectiveness and actual implementation of this new strategy, to avoid overcrowding in quarantine centers in Metro Manila, is yet to be seen.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) said 44,724 OFWs are expected to return to the country from May to June this year.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) further reports that a total of 341,161 OFWs lost their jobs due to the pandemic and around 200,000 are expected to be repatriated in June until August this year.

REVILLA NAIS REPASUHIN NG SENADO ANG PAGPAPAUWI NG PAMAHALAAN SA MGA OFW

NAGPATAWAG ng joint-panel Senate investigation si Senador Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. hinggil sa isinasagawang pagpapauwi ng pamahalaan sa ating mga Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

Layunin umano ng naturang pagtatanong ang matugunan ang mga kakulangan sa proseso ng isinasagawang pagpapauwi ng kinauukulang ahensiya ng pamahalaan hinggil sa inaasahang pagdagsa ng mga lumipat na OFWs, lalo na iyong mga na-stranded sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng mundo simula ng paglaganap ng coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Mayroong matinding pangangailangan upang mapalakas at mapabilis ang proseso ng pagpapauwi at magamit lahat ng available resources at sistema upang maiuwi ang lahat ng stranded na OFWs abroad” paliwanag ni Revilla kasabay nang pagsusumite ng Senate Resolution 448.

Idinagdag pa ni Revilla na ang proseso ng pagpapauwi ay dapat na systematic at holistic upang madala sa pintuan ng kanilang mga tahanan ang mga OFWs ng walang pagkaantala at anumang paghihirap.

Ang resolusyon ni Revilla ay naglalayong igiya ang Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development upang magsagawa ng inquiry, in aid of legislation, kasama ang Foreign Relations Committee.

Inaasahan ni Revilla na ang resulta ng isasagawang pagbusisi ay makakatulong sa epektibo at mabilis na implementasyon ng isinasagawang pagsisikap ng pamahalaan sa pagpapauwi ng mga OFWs.

“Ang paghihirap sa paghihintay, ang pagdurusa ng malayo sa kanilang pamilya, ang pagkabalisa sa pera at kawalan ng trabaho, ang kawalan ng kasiguruhan sa darating na bukas, sa gitna ng maraming isinasaalang-alang, apektado ang kanilang kalusugan—hindi lang physically, kung hindi mentally at emotionally” saad pa ni Revilla.

Kamakailan lamang, si Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ay nagpahayag sa ilang news reports na 1,000 hanggang 2,000 repatriated OFWs lamang ang tatanggapin sa airport at ang maximum na mananatili sa quarantine facilities sa Manila ay limang araw o baka wala pa.

Ayon pa kay Revilla, ang pagiging epektibo at aktuwal na implimentasyon ng bagong estratehiya, upang maiwasang umapaw ang mga quarantine centers sa Metro Manila ay hindi pa umano nakikita.

Ang Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) ay nagpahayag na 44,724 OFWs ang inaasahang babalik sa bansa mula Mayo hanggang Hunyo ng taong kasalukuyan.

Ang Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ay kalaunang nag-ulat na ang kabuuang 341,161 ng OFWs ay nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa pandemya at nasa 200,000 ang inaasahang pauuwiin sa Hunyo hanggang Agosto ng taong kasalukuyan.