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| OFWs are asked to sign a health waiver before being allowed to fly to Hong Kong |
Overseas Filipino workers stranded in the Philippines due to the travel ban to Hong Kong,
Macau and China
But others, including those belonging to militant
organization Migrante Hong Kong, decried the decision to require OFWs heading
back to their worksite to submit to what Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs
Brigido Dulay called “certain procedural formalities.”
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in an interview
with Malacanang reporters that this included signing a declaration that they
are aware of the risks involved in going to Hong Kong
amid the spread of the coronavirus or Covid-19.
But Overseas Workers Welfare Administration head Hans Cacdac
said there is more that is required of OFWs.
“They are likewise exempted from the travel ban signing of a
declaration whereby they will manifest their free will and consent to travel on
their own volition obviously. And that they understand the risks of returning
to Hong Kong as well as Macau ,” Cacdac told
GMA News.
He added that those who choose to fly out must also undergo
regular health checks.
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| Migrante leader Eman Villanueva is among those opposed to the idea of a waiver |
The restrictions imposed solely on OFWs angered Migrante
Hong Kong which said migrants should “never be required to sign waivers nor
provide medical certificates or undergo any other additional process.
“The government should not impose additional burdens on
stranded migrants. OFWs deserve to obtain clearer information and details from
the government regarding the travel ban exemption and migrants should not be
obligated by any means to surrender their right to demand and receive
government assistance,” said Migrante’s statement.
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The restricted lifting of the travel ban was cheered on
social media by most affected workers who had worried about losing their jobs. But others were more cautious especially after learning that there were still no flights available to and from Hong Kong .
There were also no clear guidelines yet from the government
on how OFWs can go back to their work.
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| Major airlines like PAL have yet to accept bookings to HK while guidelines for the lifting are not yet in place |
Among the thousands of OFWs who welcomed the news was Gemma
Aquino Lauraya, president of the National Organization of Professional Teachers
in Hong Kong , who said she went home on Jan 23
as a bonus from her employer.
Lauraya was due to return to Hong Kong
on Feb 3 but was overtaken by the travel ban the day before. It was imposed by
the government following the death in Manila of a
Chinese visitor from Wuhan
City
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She said she was lucky because her employer was kind enough
to tell her that she could return in March because schools in Hong
Kong are closed until then anyway.
Lauraya said she and two others from NOPT went home and got
snagged there because of the travel ban, including a former president, Josefina
Manjares.
Reports quoting a group of employment agencies deploying
workers to Hong Kong said an estimated 25,000
workers were stranded due to the ban.
The Philippine Overseas Labor Office and Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration as well as workers’ groups in Hong
Kong have said several helpers had already been dismissed by their
employers who could not wait indefinitely for the lifting of the ban.
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| There have already been reports of termination because of the travel ban |
Maria Sheena Medrano was among those who were fired after
being stranded in the Philippines
Many workers cheered on hearing about the travel ban, but turned
anxious after seeing that there were still no flights to Hong
Kong .
Maria Gracia
said: “Yes, we already knew that, but most airlines have cancelled their
flights. My flight has been cancelled twice, so, it’s useless…It's really
stressing and upsetting … (I) won’t be able to attend my son’s graduation.”
“Good news. But still no direct flights from Manila to Macau and vice
versa,” another worker commented.
Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Asia that flew daily
to Hong Kong and Macau cancelled their flights
on Feb 2 and said they would resume flying the route on Feb. 29. They extended
this further to Mar 28 when it looked like the ban would last longer than
expected.
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