House panel urges IATF, CAAP to speed up OFW repatriation

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts is urging the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to expedite the repatriation of approximately 167,000 stranded Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

Committee chairman Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor highlighted the desperate situation of OFWs, many of whom are running low on funds and relying on aid for survival.

He emphasized the need to also bring home the bodies of OFWs who have died from COVID-19 or other causes.

ACT CIS Partylist Rep. Nina Taduran warned that many stranded OFWs are sick and dying, expressing their depression and desperation for help.

House leaders, including Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, have agreed to issue a strong appeal to the IATF and other agencies to lift restrictions on repatriation flights and arrange additional transportation.

The committee learned that the IATF and CAAP had reportedly imposed a cap of 1,000 repatriates per day, leading to issues for thousands of stranded OFWs in Metro Manila.

While CAAP officials denied imposing a limit, they stated they were following IATF guidelines; Defensor urged the IATF and CAAP to remove any existing limits.

Defensor suggested prioritizing OFWs who have already purchased plane tickets, noting that airlines are willing to accept them for commercial flights, which would be at no cost to the government.