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Travel ban lifted for Filipinos who live, work, study in Hong Kong

Posted on 18 February 2020 No comments

By Daisy CL Mandap

Chaos at Manila airport on first day of the travel ban

The Philippine government today lifted its travel ban to Hong Kong for residents, students and migrant workers, subject to a requirement that overseas Filipino workers must sign a “health waiver.”

The Bureau of Immigration says it has begun implementing the partial lifting of the travel ban, however, no guidelines, especially with regards to the document the OFWs are required to sign, have been issued.

Consul General Raly Tejada says he has yet to receive details of the lifting of the ban for outward travel of exempted Filipinos.

The ban banning all Filipinos from traveling to Hong Kong, Macau and China was imposed on Feb 2 as part of moves to control the spread of the coronavirus, or Novid-19.

It remains in force for all Filipino tourists flying to and from the three destinations. Likewise for inbound travel by foreigners from the three places, including layovers, to the Philippines. Filipinos are allowed to enter, but must undergo a 14-day self-quarantine.

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The ban’s partial lifting was first announced through twitter by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr., and confirmed afterwards by Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo.

According to Panelo, there will be no restrictions on residents and their family members, but overseas Filipino workers will have to sign a declaration that they understand the risks they face in going to Hong Kong.

The decision to lift the travel restrictions was made during a meeting of the government Inter-agency Task Force that was mandated to review the ban two weeks after the Cabinet held its first meeting on the issue on Feb. 4.

Stranded OFWs will be asked to sign a declaration saying they are aware of the risks in going to HK

Secretary Panelo made his statement after a telephone conversation with Health Secretary Francisco Duque.

“Secretary of Health Duque confirmed that the inter-agency task for emerging infectious disease has decided to lift the travel ban of overseas workers going to Macau and Hong Kong. And according to him, those OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) going back would have to make a written declaration that they know the risk of going back to their places of work,” Panelo said in an interview with reporters at the Palace.

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“Those coming back from Macau and Hong Kong, the families of Filipinos who are there, can come back, and those having permanent resident [visa] holders, as well as the diplomatic corps and families,” he added.

Immigration Commissioner Salvador Morente said the order lifting the ban covers all Filipino nationals who are holders of working visas, student visas, and permanent resident visas both in Hong Kong and Macau.

“They may be now allowed to depart to Hong Kong and Macau,” said Morente. “However, the ban on Filipinos going to both countries as tourists is still in effect,”

ConGen Tejada thanked Filcom members for joining hands in urging for the ban's lifting

Consul General Raly Tejada welcomed the news, and said it was “indeed a reason to celebrate.”

He added, “Adversity brought out the best in the community. Nakita natin ang pagkakaisa ng Filipino community.”

He said he was awaiting the guidelines on the lifting of the travel ban before making an official declaration.

He gave credit to Secretary Locsin who was the most visible proponent of the ban's lifting among Cabinet officials.

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“Special thanks goes to our advocate DFA Secretary Locsin for speaking on behalf of the 240,000 strong Filipino community in Hong Kong,” he said.

Yesterday, Congen Tejada met with Filipino community representatives who presented him a petition addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte, calling for the urgent lifting of the ban. Congen Tejada immediately forwarded the petition to the DFA so it could be presented at today’s meeting.

Also yesterday, a group of stranded residents called on Administrator Hans Cacdac of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Manila to relay to him their concerns about the prolonged travel ban, in particular the prospect of losing their jobs.

Cacdac also promised to support their petition during today’s IATF meeting.

At the same time, Migrante International held a well-attended press conference in Quezon City where several stranded Filipinos related their plight. Many were worried about losing their jobs, but others also spoke of being separated from family members.

Filcom leaders presented a petition calling for the ban's lifting on the eve of the IATF's meeting on the issue

Dolores Balladares, chair of United Filipinos in Hong Kong, which spearheaded the Filcom effort in Hong Kong to lobby for the lifting of the ban, also credited all the sectors that joined the campaign.

“Kung hindi tayo kumilos at nag-antay lang tayo, di natin makakamit ang magandang resulta na ito. Salamat sa lahat,” she said. “Kaya sa anumang laban, ang lesson ay huwag sumuko.”

A joint petition by Filipino community groups in Hong Kong urging for the ban’s lifting was signed by more than 130 organizations, including those made up of OFWs, alumni groups, churches, musicians and residents.

The petitioners said they were confident that their health and well-being would be well looked after in Hong Kong, where they are assured of free medical care in public hospitals and clinics. Having a private medical insurance is just an added bonus.

Both the Hong Kong and Chinese governments have also urged Philippine officials to reconsider the ban, citing the SAR’s well-funded, well-coordinated and transparent mechanism for containing the Covid-19 contagion.

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Consulate confirms case of 1st Filipina to acquire coronavirus in HK

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By The SUN

Filipino domestic workers have been told to avoid going out on their rest day
- but it seems the patient was infected by her employer

UPDATED

A 32-year-old Filipina domestic worker in Hong Kong has been infected with the novel coronavirus or Covid-19. She is the first Filipino to acquire the disease, and the 61^st in Hong Kong.

Consul General Raly Tejada confirmed the information with The SUN after checking with Hong Kong's Department of Health.

“The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong received official notice this afternoon that a Filipina domestic worker tested positive for the COVID-19. The Consulate General immediately sent a team to the hospital to check on her condition. Rest assured that the Philippine Government will render all necessary assistance to the Filipino national. No further details are available at this time,” said Congen Tejada in a message.

The news came as a blow to the community, as it could mean further restrictions being made on foreign domestic workers who have already been advised by the Hong Kong government to remain at home instead of taking a day off.

Just a day earlier, Congen Tejada told Filipino community leaders that seven Filipinos had been put under quarantine, but all were healthy.

The Filipina who was infected was reportedly the caregiver of a 67-year-old woman who tested positive for the virus on Feb. 13.

The elderly woman had joined a dinner at Star Seafood Restaurant in North Point with 28 other people on Jan. 26. At least five other people who were there had also tested positive for the virus, including the woman's 37-year-old son.

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The domestic worker initially tested negative for the virus, but was found to have it three days later. She is now confined at the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan.

The helper lived with her employer at Mt. Parker Lodge in Quarry Bay.

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Dolores Balladares, chair of United Filipinos in Hong Kong, said it was unfortunate that the Filipina had acquired the disease, and urged the Hong Kong government and the Phlippine consulate to give her all the necessary help.

She also said this should not be used by Hong Kong authorities and employers to prevent foreign domestic workers from taking their weekly day off.

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The news set alarm bells ringing in the community, as it came on the day the Inter-Agency Task Force in the Philippines was set to review a travel ban imposed on Hong Kong on Feb. 2 as part of measures to control the spread of Covid-19.

Fortunately, the expected lifting of the ban went ahead despite the first positive case of Covid-19 infection of a Filipino in Hong Kong.

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Filipinos in HK link arms to get travel ban lifted

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By Daisy CL Mandap

HK Filcom leaders meet with Consul General Tejada after handing a petition calling for a lifting of the travel ban

Several groups have joined forces to get the Philippines’ travel ban to Hong Kong lifted, as the Manila government prepares to review the restrictions that have left thousands of overseas Filipino workers and residents stranded in the country since Feb. 2.

The latest push came from more than 130 Filipino community organizations which signed a petition for the immediate lifting of the ban. The petition was handed this afternoon, Feb. 17, by 10 community leaders to Consul General Raly Tejada at the Consulate.

The representatives from various OFW groups, business, professional and academic organizations as well as churches, then sat down for a dialogue with ConGen Tejada on how the community can join forces in helping battle the contagion and get the ban lifted.

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ConGen Tejada said he would immediately forward the petition to the Department of Foreign Affairs, which was at the time taking part in a meeting of the government’s Technical Working Group on dealing with the coronavirus, or Covid-19, contagion.

The TWG is set to present its recommendations to an Inter Agency Task Force which will meet in Malacang tomorrow, Feb. 18, when the travel ban is expected to be reviewed.

In Manila, a group made up mostly of skilled workers and permanent residents met with Administrator Hans Cacdac of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration at his office to formally ask for help in being allowed back to Hong Kong.

Stranded Filipinos ask OWWA administrator Cacdac (in blue jacket) to help push for the recall of the travel ban

The group told the OWWA chief that they fear losing their jobs because of the ban, and how it has affected their work and family life.

Cacdac reportedly assured them of his continuing support by presenting their case to the IATF tomorrow.

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At the same time, Migrante International held a packed press conference in Quezon City, during which several of those stranded shared their tales of woe. Again, the recurring theme was the fear of losing their jobs and livelihood.

Another group of stranded Filipinos at Migrante press con call for compensation apart from ban lifting

During his meeting with Filcom representatives, Congen Tejada said he shared their conviction that Hong Kong remains a safe place for Filipinos because of its comprehensive and transparent effort to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Moreover, Hong Kong has one of the best public health systems in place, which ensures that anyone who gets sick gets excellent medical care at no cost.

He said Chief Executive Carrie Lam discussed her government’s effort to combat the contagion during a recent meeting with consuls general of various countries.

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She reportedly took the diplomats through the emergency arrangements that had been put in place, including setting up a $10 billion relief fund for resources needed to fight the virus.

She also explained other measures taken, like reducing the flow of people between Hong Kong and the mainland, enhancing quarantine measures for those at risk of contracting the disease, promoting “social distancing”, boosting the supply of surgical masks, and ensuring transparent communication with the public.

Tejada revealed that that seven Filipinos had been put under quarantine, although none had symptoms. Three have already been released after the prescribed 14-day isolation period because they remained asymptomatic.

“What we should emphasize is that no Filipino has tested positive for Covid-19 in Hong Kong,” he told the Filcom leaders.

JOINT STATEMENT OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY:

Filcom leaders with Congen Tejada showing a copy of their petition

URGENT APPEAL TO LIFT THE TRAVEL BAN TO HONG KONG

We, Filipinos currently working, studying, and residing in Hong Kong, reiterate our urgent appeal to the Philippine government to lift the travel ban that was imposed on the 2nd of February 2020, prohibiting all Filipino passport holders from departing for Hong Kong.

According to estimates by a group of Philippines-based recruitment agencies, around 25,000 overseas Filipino workers have been unable to leave the county because of the ban. Add to this an estimated 1,000 other Filipinos - skilled workers, professionals, students and permanent residents -- who have been left stranded in the Philippines.

We all feel that the travel ban which was imposed without a warning or consultation is unjustified and oppressive. It was decided upon without a comprehensive understanding of how it would affect us, and was not even in line with health protocols set by the World Health Organization.

The abruptness by which it was carried out also belied the concern for Filipinos abroad that President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed in numerous speeches and interviews.

For Filipino workers, the inability to return to Hong Kong could mean loss of jobs and consequently, loss of sustenance for their families. For Filipino scholars it could result in their failure to complete academic requirements. For Filipino permanent residents, including business proprietors, it could mean being separated from their families and unable to raise money for their rent and other expenses.

All of us are bound to lose a lot because of this ban.

Health-wise, we also feel safer in Hong Kong where we are assured of excellent public health care at little or no cost to us. Some of us who have private medical insurance get the added bonus of being treated at private hospitals, also for free.

The government’s response so far to the crisis brought about by the travel ban leaves much to be desired. Each stranded OFW was offered Php10,000 compensation from the OWWA Fund, an amount that would not even pay for the expenses they had to bear after being stranded at the airport.

Moreover, non-OFWs were given no help at all, when many of them don’t even have houses in the Philippines, and have to pay for food and lodging while waiting for the ban to be lifted. They are also in danger of suffering even more if they lose their jobs, as they pay high rents and other expenses such as school fees for their children in Hong Kong.

For all these reasons, we urge President Duterte to listen to our plea. Exempt Hong Kong from the travel ban. Allow us to go back to Hong Kong.

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