GenSan, South Cotabato arrange sweeper flights for OFWs

General Santos City officials are coordinating with national agencies to arrange special sweeper flights for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) stranded in Luzon and Visayas.

South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. announced that at least 10 OFWs from South Cotabato province who were stranded in Metro Manila are expected to return home soon via a special flight arranged by the national government.

These returning OFWs, who have completed their mandatory 14-day quarantine in Metro Manila, are from five localities in South Cotabato: Koronadal City, Polomolok, Surallah, Lake Sebu, and Tupi.

The grounding of domestic flights due to the enhanced community quarantine has prevented many OFWs from returning to their home provinces.

The city government, in coordination with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), aims to include OFWs stranded in Cebu in these special flight arrangements.

Mayor Ronnel Rivera advised residents stranded elsewhere to remain in their current locations until April 30 to avoid further difficulties, as movement between Mindanao regions is restricted due to the Covid-19 threat.