Govt eyes faster quarantine exit for OFWs

The Philippine government aims to allow returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to leave quarantine facilities and head to their hometowns within 72 hours.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque stated that remedial measures have been implemented to reduce the quarantine stay for repatriates.

In Clark, Pampanga, a strategy involving immediate swabbing and utilizing labs outside Metro Manila has enabled OFWs to depart quarantine within 72 hours.

President Duterte previously ordered authorities to expedite the return of OFWs who were experiencing extended stays in quarantine facilities due to delayed test results.

The government is opening more airports, such as Clark, to receive returning OFWs and conduct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing upon arrival.

OFW employment agencies now have the liberty to choose testing laboratories for their clients, promoting a free market for PCR testing.

OFWs have the option to proceed directly to designated hotels for quarantine while awaiting their tests, with lab technicians potentially visiting the hotel or allowing supervised trips to external labs.

The government is actively working to increase the number of COVID-19 testing laboratories to improve the country's testing capacity, which currently averages around 10,000 tests daily despite a capacity of 41,990.

Approximately 300,000 Filipino workers are anticipated to return home in the coming three months.