OFW repatriation aborted after opposition from governor, mayors

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has confirmed that the planned repatriation of 100 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) to Iloilo today, April 14, 2020, has been aborted indefinitely.

This, after Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. and Iloilo town mayors unanimously voiced their opposition to the planned return of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) to the province amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a post on its Facebook page, the provincial government said OCD-6 disclosed the cancellation to Defensor during a meeting of the province’s COVID-19 Task Force with municipal mayors.

Defensor said he understood that the OFWs wished to return to their homes but he also recognized the risk if he allowed them to return.

“We like to see our OFWs home with their families but allowing them to come home at this time only increases the risk of more Covid-19 cases in the province of Iloilo, puts the safety of their own families at risk, and further extends the deadline of our enhanced community quarantine,” he said.

The governor and all but eight municipal mayors signed a letter dated April 13, 2020 addressed to Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director-General Jim Sydiongco.

The letter stated that Iloilo will not allow the entry of the OFWs aboard Philippine Airlines flight PR 4141 which was scheduled to arrive at Iloilo International Airport from Manila at 10:30 a.m. on April 14.

The provincial government cited the latest case in Iloilo City, a 40-year-old male OFW from La Paz district who returned from the United Kingdom.

The eight town mayors who did not sign the letter were Jett Rojas of Ajuy, Nathalie Ann Debuque of ANilao, Mamerto Pelopero of Dueñas, Melina Requinto of Estancia, Stephen Palmares of Passi City, Lawrence Anthony Gorriceta of Pavia, Rafael Lazaro of Pototan, and Marina Luz Gorriceta of San Miguel.

The province is currently under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) by virtue of Executive Order No. 080 issued on March 20.

Defensor on April 8 extended the effectivity of the ECQ to April 30 from April 14 through Executive Order No. 102.

Data from Iloilo Provincial Health Office indicated that as of 12 p.m. of April 12, there are 15 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 11 active cases, four deaths and two recoveries.