CLARK FREEPORT -- A total of 151 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were sent home Saturday, June 20, 2020, after recovering from Covid-19 at the We Heal As One Center-Philippine Arena.
The Covid-19 survivors were seafarers and land-based OFWs from the Middle East and the United Kingdom who were repatriated due to the pandemic.
These OFWs stayed at the We Heal As One Center-Philippine Arena in Bulacan, which has a 300-bed capacity. We Heal As One Centers were put up by the government and the private sector for Covid-19 patients with mild and no symptoms.
The simple send-off ceremony for the Covid survivors was led by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, National Action Plan Against Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vince Dizon, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, Bureau of Quarantine Director and Head Facility Manager Roberto Salvador, and Iglesia Ni Cristo Official and Maligaya Development Corporation Chief Operating Officer Atty. Glicerio “Ka GP” Santos IV.
“Natutuwa tayo na makakauwi na ang ating mga OFWs sa kani-kanilang pamilya, at pagkatapos nga ng mga pagsubok na dinaanan nila, sila ngayon ay negatibo na sa COVID. Saludo din po kami sa ating mga medical frontliners na siniguro ang mabilis na paggaling ng ating mga kababayan,” said Duque.
The OFWs residing in parts of Luzon were transported to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, while those going to Visayas and Mindanao were brought to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa kanilang kooperasyon at pagsunod sa mga protocols ng gobyerno dahil hangad lamang natin ay ligtas silang makakabalik sa kanilang mga tahanan,” Dizon said.
As of June 20, a total of 367 individuals have recovered from Covid-19 at the Philippine Arena facility.