OWWA assists over 10K stranded OFWs due to ECQ

FILE: Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac and OWWA officers welcome distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were repatriated from Kuwait through Philippine Airlines (PR) 669 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City on Monday morning. (Feb. 12, 2018). (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – Over 10,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were stranded due to the implementation of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) have been assisted by the government, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) reported on Wednesday.

Based on the report of the OWWA’s Task Force coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), as of April 15, a total of 10,240 Filipinos affected by the ECQ have been provided assistance.

Of the number, 3,688 seafarers were given food packs while a total of 3,347 OFWs were provided with free transport.

It added that a total of 2,641 Filipinos were given temporary shelter and 564 Filipino were provided food, accommodation and transportation.

The Luzon-wide ECQ was implemented last March 17 in a bid to stop the spread of the disease.

It was originally scheduled to end on April 12 but was extended by President Rodrigo Duterte to April 30.