Free rides for OFWs continue

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s free transportation assistance for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will continue until the enhanced community quarantine being implemented in Luzon is lifted, an official announced yesterday.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Hans Cacdac said OFWs have difficulty in going home to the provinces because of the localized lockdown amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

The OWWA launched on March 17 its “Hatid-Sundo sa stranded OFWs” to provide free rides to OFWs to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The agency mobilized seven buses to pick up OFWs at the NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3 for transport to designated drop-off points in Dau, Pampanga; Calamba, Laguna and National Capital Region.             

Cacdac said OFWs leaving for abroad may also avail themselves of free rides going to the airport.

He said OWWA personnel administering the free transportation and the passenger-OFWs observe sanitation procedures such as disinfection, social distancing and proper hand hygiene.