Families of Ilonggo OFWs--mostly seafarers--in isolation appeal for support

Families of Ilonggo OFWs in isolation appeal for support
Tara Yap May 2, 2020 https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/05/02/families-of-ilonggo-ofws-in-isolation-...

ILOILO CITY – The families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), mostly Ilonggo seafarers, are appealing to government officials to give more support to their loved ones who are under isolation to rule out coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“They worked as seafarers to provide food and a good future for their families. They pay their taxes. Generally, they are citizens of good standing. I think we owe to them that we take care of their basic needs in this time of crisis,” they said in a joint letter of appeal.

The May 1 letter was addressed to Western Visayas regional office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Health (DOH), as well as to Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas.

Around 90 OFWs are currently staying at a hotel in Iloilo City after their April 29 arrival from Manila for another mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

The hotel accommodation and food were supposed to be shouldered by the OWWA regional office.

But with restrictions due to COVID-19’s threat, complaints have been mounting.

The Manila Bulletin spoke to two OFWs, who said the accommodation was comfortable but that the amount of food was not enough. They were are also barred from ordering or receiving food from outside.

Families also decried how a seafarer’s wife was barred by police and other frontliners outside the hotel in delivering the food, or even giving it to her husband.

“We do not see any logical reason why these front liners would turn down food and water supply of seafarers who are quarantined,” they pointed out.

The seafarers’ families were also worried, as some of them have health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. They also noted that there were no utility men cleaning up the mounting garbage in the isolation facility.

“We would appreciate if your respective offices could act on this immediately,” they appealed.

The Iloilo City government and private donors have sent initial batch of food and other necessities to the OFWs.