CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Transportation Undersecretary Raul Del Rosario said Kapampangan repatriates are fortunate enough as their Provincial Government is the first local government unit to assist returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from the airport back to their respective hometowns, amid the spread of Covid-19 in the country.

According to Del Rosario, other local government units (LGUs) can also replicate the initiative started by the Pampanga Government to help the National Government decongest the volume of repatriates arriving in Metro Manila.

During the final orientation and ocular visit of the designated employees of the Provincial Government for the “Balik Pinas, Balik Pampanga Program” at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Del Rosario expressed his delight for the upcoming Kapampangan ROFs and OFWs.

“Napakasuwerte niyo po, pagdating niyo pa lang aalagaan na kayo ng inyong probinsya. Bibigyan kayo ng magandang accommodation para maayos kayong makabalik sa inyong mga destinasyon,” Del Rosario told the ROFs and OFWs.

To date, Rosario revealed that the airport has already welcomed around 60,000 repatriates, including OFWs and non-OFWs, during the wake of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Angelina Blanco, one of the chief implementers of the program, assured that accommodation and proper personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided to all the staff who will be assigned at NAIA.

At least 58 staff from the Provincial Government are expected to assist the Kapampangan ROFs, who will be swabbed and quarantined at the Covid-19 facilities in the province starting July 7 of this year. (With reports from Pampanga PIO)