366 OFWs arrive in Bacolod City via sweeper flights

A total of 366 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Negros island, who were stranded in Manila due to the community quarantine, arrived in Bacolod City via sweeper flights from May 25 to 26.

Of the repatriates, 195 were residents of Negros Occidental, 159 were from Bacolod City, and 12 were from Negros Oriental.

The repatriates arrived at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City and were mostly brought to hotels for a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Some repatriates initially refused quarantine at a healing center in E.B. Magalona town and preferred hotels.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia mentioned that Bacolod was initially caught by surprise by a DILG memorandum about facilitating the mass arrival of thousands of OFWs.

The DILG memorandum ordered governors, mayors, and police chiefs to facilitate the unhampered mass transport of repatriated OFWs to all regions.

Mayor Leonardia appealed to hotel and lodging owners to make rooms available for returning OFWs and assured that efforts are being made to help them without risking the health of the people.