At least 2,300 Filipino seafarers are stuck in various quarantine facilities, waiting for coronavirus test results.
Philippine Transmarine Carriers Executive Director Restituto Padilla, Jr. told CNN Philippines on Saturday that some Filipino seafarers have been staying in various quarantine facilities and cruise ships for nearly a month already.
Padilla clarified that the actual figures may be more because the numbers they have include only those covered by their company, which they have provided for. Deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon earlier said that the government will prioritize 25,000 returning OFWs for testing this month, so that those who do not have the coronavirus will be allowed to return to their hometowns as soon as possible.
When CNN Philippines raised this with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac said they are prepared to help affected seafarers, but clarified that the manning agencies should have shouldered the cost for quarantining their workers.
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