Bohol imposes strict quarantine for returning OFWs

Bohol Governor Arthur Yap has implemented strict quarantine protocols through Executive Order No. 25 to manage the return of distressed and stranded Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) due to the COVID-19 crisis, ensuring the safety of the province's residents.

Under the new protocol, 81 Boholano OFWs stranded in Cebu have undergone testing, with 15 of them testing negative and cleared to return to Bohol by batch.

Returning Boholano OFWs must undergo a 14-day quarantine supervised by the Department of Health (DOH) at their point of origin, followed by an FDA-approved rapid antibody test.

Individuals testing positive in the rapid test will remain at their origin for further PCR testing, and entire groups in common quarantine facilities will undergo additional testing if one member tests positive.

Those who test negative in the rapid test and complete their initial quarantine must present DOH certification and test results to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Bohol Provincial Emergency Management Administration (PEMA) at least 24 hours before their scheduled departure for Bohol.

Returning OFWs must be asymptomatic upon boarding their transport and will not be allowed to board if symptomatic, regardless of any tests taken.

Upon arrival in Bohol, OFWs will be immediately transferred to a PEMA-approved quarantine facility for another 14-day quarantine, during which they cannot receive visitors.

OFWs who tested negative in the rapid antibody test at their point of embarkation will undergo a viral RNA (PCR) test one week after arriving at the Bohol quarantine facility to confirm the initial results.

Repatriation processes will be suspended if a positive case is detected within the returning group or in Bohol, and protocols for OFWs from the National Capital Region will not apply due to the high disease burden there.

Governor Yap emphasized the need for Boholanos to learn to live with COVID-19 while building the province's healthcare capabilities to respond to potential cases.