LOCAL officials in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City are scrambling to find places to accommodate mass return of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

A total of 138 OFWS from the different towns and cities of Negros Occidental and 99 from Bacolod City arrived via 2Go Malasakit vessel at the Bredco Port Monday morning, May 25.

The 129 Negrenses were brought to the quarantine facilities of the Provincial Government in EB Magalona town and in Cadiz City.

About 100 to 200 OFWs also arrived on board two sweeper flights at the Bacolod-Silay Airport Monday afternoon.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson confirmed that local officials were only informed Monday, May 25.

Bacolod Councilor Israel Salanga, in a post on his Facebook account, said the national IATF did not notify local officials a day earlier.

"We are talking of 100-200 OFWs and only three hours preparations," Salanga said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the release of Covid-19 test results of over 24,000 returning OFWs languishing in quarantine facilities so that they can return home to their families.

Roque said the President ordered the Labor department, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and Health department to process the documents of OFWs and seafarers who are stuck in Metro Manila as they await for the delayed release of their Covid-19 test results and certification.