Stranded na OFWs, namatay sa COVID-19 na hindi maiuwi, iimbestigahan ng Kamara

MAGSASAGAWA ng imbestigasyon ang Kamara de Representantes kaugnay ng umano’y mabagal na repatriation ng mga overseas Filipino workers kasama na ang mga nasawi sa coronavirus disease 2019.

Ayon kay House committee on Accounts chairman at AnaKalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor layunin ng pagdinig na tipunin ang mga hinaing ng mga na-stranded na OFW sa ibang bansa at dito sa bansa.

“We want the living as well as the dead repatriated as soon as possible. They have been stranded abroad for months,” ani Defensor. “Consistent with the directive of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano in the case of the social amelioration program, we want to look into the problems plaguing the repatriation of our workers overseas, who have lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and find solutions.”

Sa Biyernes isasagawa ang pagdinig at ipinatawag ang mga opisyal ng Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Inter-Agency Task Force against Covid-19, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Transportation, some ambassadors assigned to the Middle East, at kinatawan ng OFWs.

Nanawagan si Defensor sa mga OFW na makipag-ugnayan sa komite upang maipahayag ang kanilang hinaing.

“We have thousands of them in Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East and Europe who have been waiting to return home since the coronavirus outbreak,” dagdag pa ni Defensor.

“What are the agencies’ problems in trying to get them home? Are there no planes that can be chartered to fly them? Are there no government planes or ships that could be used? Are there sufficient repatriation and related funds? These are some of the questions we want answered.”

Sinabi ni Defensor na kahit na ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno ay hindi tugma ang numero sa sinasabi ng ibang bansa.

“The labor department reported that there are about 280, while our embassy in Saudi Arabia claimed in a television report that there are more than 350, 100 of whom have died due to Covid-19.”