One of the many effects of the COVID-19 pandemic was the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) from different countries all over the world. They had been working in cruise ships, restaurants, tourist establishments, hospitals, cargo ships, etc.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) had to ensure that the returning OFWs do not bring in and spread the infection in the Philippines. The OFWs had to undergo several polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests in their country where they had been working, and after arrival in the Philippines they had to be tested in Manila as well as in their hometown. They also had to be housed in a quarantine facility for a few days while awaiting the result of their PCR test.
At first, the government used public schools as quarantine facilities, but these turned out to be unsatisfactory for maintaining physical distancing and hygiene. Thus, hotels and resorts were used instead.
Since May this year, the Goducate Training Center in Iloilo has also been used as a quarantine facility for batches of OFWs. Food and other necessities are delivered to the OFWs at drop-off points. A few days after the arrival of a batch, Department of Health staff arrive to do PCR tests on the OFWs.
The OFWs have also been given unlimited access to wifi throughout their stay, to enable them to communicate with Goducate personnel as well as with their families. Because there had been reports of OFWs in quarantine elsewhere having mental-health difficulties, including two cases of suicide, each Goducate staff member who volunteers to be a friend is allocated one or two OFWs to befriend via Messenger. Children of GTC staff have also been preparing pretty notes with lovely messages for the OFWs.
*Our guest writer is Carmela Damaso, a Goducate staff member.