About 4,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) heading to Hong Kong were allegedly affected by the trip due to the increase in COVID-19 cases in the said territory of China due to the Omicron variant.
In a report by Mark Salazar on GMA News “24 Oras” on Thursday, it was said that starting on Friday, HK should allow OFWs to enter their territory, but this has changed due to their COVID-19 cases.
“Mayroon na silang mga exit pass na pinroseso na ng POEA [Philippine Overseas Employment Administration], ‘yung mga may ticket na at mayroon na ring mga naka-book na quarantine rooms. May mga OFW tayo na dapat ay lilipad na ay inabutan na ng expiration ng kanilang mga visa,” according to Dolly Uanang, president of the Society of Hong Kong Accredited Recruiters of the Philippines (SHARP).
“’Yung mga OEC nila o exit pass nila galing sa POEA ay hindi naman apektado ‘yun dahil kahit three months ang validity noon pwede pa naman nila gamitin ‘yun. Ang problema, ‘yung mga visa nila doon sa Hong Kong ay nagsisimula nang mag-expire,” she added.
An estimated 200,000 Filipinos are currently in Hong Kong, according to the Hong Kong Immigration website.
So far, Uanang said no OFWs in Hong Kong have been hit by the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
OFWs returning to Hong Kong affected by spike in COVID-19 cases
“So far, wala pa naman tayong mga kababayan na affected, I mean sa hanay namin sa SHARP. ‘Yung aming mga pinaalis na OFW, wala pa naman kaming feedback na nakukuha na nagkaroon ng Omicron COVID infection. So far, wala naman. Pinag-iingat parin namin sila,” she said.
With the number of patients in Hong Kong, some patients are already out of the hospital.
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was asked if he would consider imposing travel restrictions on trips from Hong Kong.
“Well, depende ‘yan sa gobyerno ng Hong Kong kung sila mismo tingin nila ay dapat magsara sila or mag-adopt sila ng protocols nila rerespetuhin natin yon. So far, wala pa sa usapan iyan,” said Duque.
He added, “Mamaya sa IATF [meeting] tingnan natin kung may magmumungkahi na i-consider yung sinabi mo [travel restrictions].”
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