THEY may be free from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid 2019), but overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in China are experiencing “economic difficulties,” Ambassador Jose Santiago “Chito” Sta. Romana said on March 30.
In a “Laging Handa” public briefing, Sta. Romana bared that Filipino workers, especially those under a “no work, no pay” scheme, are reaching out to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for financial assistance.
“On one hand, health-wise, [they are okay; but they are experiencing economic problems and difficulties because they either don’t have work, or have] stopped working, while waiting for the situation to normalize completely,” he said over a phone patch interview.
The Philippine ambassador to China explained that Filipino teachers were only paid with living allowances, and not their salaries, because classes have been suspended.
Undocumented Filipino household workers who wanted to return home are also having trouble processing their exit visas, he said.
The DOLE earlier assured that all Filipino repatriates from countries with confirmed Covid-19 cases will be given financial, livelihood and employment assistance.
Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said his agency has prepared a “reintegration program” that consists of P20,000 worth of financial assistance, livelihood assistance, and alternative employment opportunities, especially for those who have decided to stay in the Philippines for good.
Bello said scholarships will also be provided to children of Filipino repatriates.
Learn from China
STA. ROMANA explained that the Philippines can learn from China’s approach to the Covid-19 health crisis by adopting early detection by testing and early isolation of infected patients.
“It’s important to have early detection and early isolation. There should be a segmentation of patients, so they don’t infect each other,” the Filipino envoy said.
He explained China was also losing health workers, which was why the People’s Liberation Army had to send in thousands of doctors to man temporary hospitals.
China also deployed volunteer doctors from its different provinces to help in Wuhan City, considered as “ground zero” of the pandemic. The country is expected to lift the mass quarantine in the said city on April 8.
Meanwhile, he also bared that Chinese doctors have been tapped by the Health Department to assist Filipino doctors. In a separate phone patch interview, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire also denied the claim of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. that the Department of Health is blocking the entry of Chinese doctors. Azer Parrocha/PNA
Image credits: DFA