BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – City Hall and Capitol are still mapping out specifics for the return of overseas workers from the city and the province who have been stranded in Metro Manila and other provinces in the country.
“Yes, we are working on it,” Capitol spokesperson Czarina Tan told DNX when asked if the provincial government will facilitate the return of these Negrenses.
Vice-Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chair of the city’s Inter-Agency Task Force, said these Negrenses have either returned from their work abroad or have lost their jobs in Manila.
These Negrenses had earlier posted an open letter addressed to him, Mayor Evelio Leonardia, and Cong. Greg Gasataya, seeking their help after national government agencies they said did not act on their requests.
Tan said the returning Negrenses will be classified as Persons Under Monitoring and will be “most likely” sent to a quarantine facility in the northern town of EB Magalona.
This could change, however, she said.
Familiaran, on the other hand, said Mayor Evelio Leonardia had already designated Councilor Israel Salanga to lead the Action Team for Returning OFWs.
Familiaran said Salanga will serve as a point person in facilitating the return of these OFWs.
Councilor Renecito Novero, on the other hand, was assigned to help supervise the PUM facility of the city in a former school campus in Alijis village.