THE Department of the Transportation (DoTr) said the government continues to provide shuttle services to assist departing and arriving overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Officials of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said seven buses were mobilized to pick up OFWs at the NAIA terminals 1, 2, and for transport to designated drop off points in Dau, Mabalacat City, Calamba, Laguna; and Metro Manila.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), in coordination with the MIAA, recently launced a shuttle service program dubbed “Hatid Sundo sa Stranded OFWs.”
The program is aimed to provide free transportation to OFWs and their families affected by the land travel restriction as the entire Luzon island was placed under the Enhanced Community Quarantine and state of calamity due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) threat.
OWWA’s free-transport assistance to OFWs will continue until the community quarantine is lifted.
Mabalacat City Mayor Cris Garbo assured OWWA Deputy Administrator Mocha Uson that the local government will provide assistance in terms of medical services, transportation, temporary shelters and others to OFWs who will be stranded at the Dau Bus Terminal, where an OFW Desk was established.
Health workers were dispatched in the bus terminal to assist the OFWs while they are waiting for their relatives who will fetch them.
“Ginawan na po natin ng paraan ito para sa ating mga kababayan na OFWs. Naka ready na po lahat ang basic support na ibibigay po ng local government unit ng Mabalacat City at naglaan na po kami ng mga sasakyan if ever na mahihirapan po sila at mapadali po ang kanilang pag-uwi at hindi na sila masyadong magtagal dito,” Garbo told Uson.