AT LEAST 35 mayors of Iloilo Province signed a request not to allow the transport of 100 Ilonggo overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have been stranded in Metro Manila due to the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine.
The 100 OFWs are set to arrive at the Iloilo airport onboard Philippine Airlines flight PR4141 at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2020.
In a letter sent by League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) president Rosario Mediatrix Fernandez and signed by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. to Director General Captain Jim Sydiongco of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) in Manila, the mayors said in as much they would like the OFWs to see their families, they cannot allow the landing of the aircraft.
"One of OFWs with the batch that arrived last April 9, 2020 tested positive for Covid-19. We are awaiting for the test results of the others. The traffic of the OFWs who can be Covid-19 positive endangers the health of their families and compromises enhanced community quarantine measures enforced in the country," the letter stated.
The letter was coursed through Maria Luisa Palma, acting airport manager of Iloilo International Airport.
Iloilo Province has 42 towns and one component city. (SunStar Philippines)