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Temperature check at Manila airport for Filipino travelers |
Relief has replaced 19 days of anguish and frustration for many Filipinos stranded in the Philippines, as they began flying back to Hong Kong on Feb. 19, a day after the Manila government partially lifted a travel ban to allow them to return to their work and homes.
Although the partial lifting of the ban was supposed
to take effect immediately, many opted to wait for at least another day before
booking their flights because of a lack of clear guidelines from authorities.
The biggest concern was over the waiver or
declaration that overseas Filipino workers were supposed to make before being
allowed to fly back to Hong Kong. Confusion grew when some netizens said the
declaration was supposed to be in legal form, and notarized.
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Another concern was whether all Hong Kong-bound
passengers were meant to show either a medical clearance or a barangay
certificate before being allowed to board, as other worried travelers said they
had been told.
In the end, the qualms were all for naught as the
passengers who braved flying out at the first opportunity reported sailing though
the check-in and immigration control.
Among the first to post about a hassle-free flight out
of Manila was Jennifer Silvano-Briones, a teacher and business proprietor who
had agonized with her OFW-aunt who had been stuck in
Pampanga for nearly a month.
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“There were no issues upon check-in and going
through immigration. Everything was smooth sailing (as we expected it to be),”
said Briones in an online post.
“There was also no requirement for a notarized
declaration. Just make sure that all the blanks are completed, (and) affixed
with their signature.”
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| OFWs are made to sign this declaration saying they voluntarily put themselves of potential risk to Covid-19 |
She accompanied her post with a copy of the
declaration form, which in part requires OFWs to subject themselves to “prescribed
health checks by concerned authorities” in the Philippines and their place of
work abroad.
The form that the OFW is made to sign also carries
the declaration “that I am informed and made aware by government authorities
that I am putting myself at potential risk of exposure to CoVid-19 by
proceeding to_____ (country or territory).”
Surprisingly, non-OFW residents and dependents are
not required to sign the same declaration, even if they remain Filipino
citizens entitled to the same protection by their government, and are given the same health protection in Hong Kong as migrant workers.
But for Briones, signing the risk declaration was a
small price to pay for her aunt’s seamless return to Hong Kong. They both had
waited for a tense two weeks since her aunt was supposed to fly back, after spending the
Chinese New Year break in their hometown of Capas, Tarlac.
Because of the travel ban on Filipinos departing for
Hong Kong, China and Macau, even Briones’ husband was stranded in Manila, so
she was left all by herself looking after their four children – aged 13, 6, 3 and
1 – while running their trading business.
Thus, when news got out that the ban on Filipinos
flying to Hong Kong had been lifted, Briones lost no time booking a one-way
Cathay Pacific ticket for her aunt, even at the steep price of $1,200. She was
to learn later that the price had nearly doubled by the day’s end because of
the high demand.
Cathay has been on limited flights to and from
Manila since the ban was imposed on Feb. 2, while Hong Kong Airlines flies once
a day. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific which used to fly at least thrice
daily, have yet to resume their flights.
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| Jennifer with husband Marc Briones and their 4 children she was left to look after while working |
Once her household has settled back to its normal
routine and her husband has returned to Hong Kong, Briones says she and her children
might take advantage of the prolonged school holiday and fly to the Philippines
for a vacation. This time, at least, they won’t have reason to fear that they’d
be stuck there indefinitely.
But for others who also want to go home, especially
OFWs who have been looking forward to attending their children’s graduation in
March, the 14-day self-quarantine that remains in force for Filipinos flying in
from Hong Kong, is a big cause for concern.
Nearly all have been granted home leaves that will
not be long enough for them to comply with the quarantine period. Others are
also worried that overzealous local officials might force them to stay at home
to observe self-quarantine.
Asked one in the Facebook page of Domestic Workers
Corner, “Sa sitwasyon po natin ngayon tama po bang umuwi tayo sa graduation ng
mga anak natin. Wala pa po akong ticket. Magsabi lang daw ako sa amok o ipa-book
nila. Isa lang po ang anak ko. Grade 12 po siya. Naguguluhan po ako kasi
nagtatanong na amo ko if uuwi pa ako.”
Another replied that she also has one child whose graduation is coming up, but has
decided not to push ahead with her plan to go home. Asked why, she said: “Uuwi
tapos may home quarantine. Hindi rin ako makaka-attend, useless. Tapos baka
habang nasa vacation ka baka biglang mag travel na naman.”
Because of a lack of clear guidelines, the
quarantine requirement remains a big cause for concern for all Filipinos
traveling to the Philippines. Many of those who had flown to Manila have
reported not getting any calls or visits from health officials while some of
those who went on to provinces say their barangay officials had been monitoring
if they were taking daily temperature checks.
Cebu remains a big trouble spot for those who fly
home from Hong Kong, as authorities there require all non-residents to stay in
a sanitarium for the entire two weeks of quarantine.
One thing is for sure: they will not be allowed to fly out again until after they have remained in the Philippines for the mandatory 14-day period.
One thing is for sure: they will not be allowed to fly out again until after they have remained in the Philippines for the mandatory 14-day period.
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