OFWs from Sierra Leone now under quarantine

MANILA, Philippines - Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have just returned from Sierra Leone are now subject to a 21-day quarantine for Ebola.

Around five OFWs arrived in the country on Monday and were sent to Nayong Pilipino through an ambulance two hours after landing, according to a report from radio dzMM.

According to an OFW identified as "Nestor," they were already quarantined before leaving Sierra Leone but Immigration officers refused to acknowledge the certification that they were free of Ebola and insisted that they undergo mandatory quarantine.

Nestor added that there were seven of them who arrived on Monday but only five of them were quarantined.

"May mga grupo rin na kasamahan din kami na sa Terminal 3 (dumating). Sila po ay hindi sila na-quarantine... Kami na pito, 'yung dalawa naming kasama nakalusot pero kaming lima ika-quarantine," Nestor said in an interview with radio dzMM.

Nestor said that they are not against mandatory quarantine but they should be provided with better facilities.

"Baka po dito po kami magkasakit sa ginagawa nila sa amin," Nestor said, adding that the facility does not have beds and airconditioning units, the restrooms are not properly working and that the rooms are full of mosquitoes.

The OFWs from Sierra Leone were only given 21 days vacation, the same number of days that they will be quarantined.

"Nakakalungkot po isipin na umuwi kami para mag-celebrate ng Pasko [kasama ang] mga mahal namin sa buhay pero 'yung nangyayari ngayon parang ipinagkait sa amin 'yung kaligayahan," Nestor said.

The Manila International Airport Authority earlier announced that the administration building in Nayong Pilipino and the Forward Operating Base in General Aviation will serve as temporary staging areas for Filipino returning from Ebola-affected countries.