Returning non-OFWs must pay quarantine accommodation costs

Non-overseas Filipino workers who have to undergo quarantine at government-accredited facilities upon their arrival in the country must pay for the accommodation costs, Malacañang said Monday.

“Kung kayo po ay isang OFW, iyan po ay libre, babayaran ng OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration); kung kayo po ay hindi OFW, kayo po ang magbabayad ng quarantine facility,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised briefing.

Roque said this guideline was included in the country’s quarantine and testing procedures for all arriving overseas Filipinos (OFs) and foreigners.

According to Roque, the OFs and foreigners will be oriented on the quarantine process and there will be a centralized processing of all necessary documents.

They will then undergo the RT-PCR tests and quarantine for two to five days while waiting for the results.

“Pagkalabas po ng resulta at ikaw ay positive, diretso po sa ospital o di naman ay sa We Heal as One Center,” Roque said.

(If the result is positive, they will go straight to hospitals or to a We Heal as One Center.)

If the individual is negative for the coronavirus, Roque said they may return home while assisted by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) or local government units.