Filipino expat from Dubai calls out ‘unhygienic’ quarantine facility, Department of Transport responds

  DUBAI – The Philippine Department of Transportation (DOT) on Friday (April 17) has apologised following a viral video by a Dubai-based Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) describing “deplorable” quarantine conditions in the Philippine capital. “We again apologize for any shortcoming, and we will see to it that we take the necessary remedial action, as we both endure and acknowledge our sacrifices amid the difficulty of our situation,” the DOT said in a statement issued on Friday. In her now deleted Facebook Live video, Edelle Deci said she arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Emirates flight EK 334 from Dubai on Thursday (April 16) to be “shocked” by what she described as a “chaotic” quarantine procedure for arriving passengers. Deci said that after a long wait at the airport, passengers were rounded up in a bus and told that they would be dropped off to a facility for testing and would soon be allowed to return to their hometown if they showed no symptoms of coronavirus. She said, however, that they were taken to a 2GO ship docked at Pier 15 in Manila that had been converted into a quarantine facility. Deci said they were informed that they would be quarantined there for 14 days and that they needed to pay a fee of P180 (Dh13) per day. In her live video, she described the facility as “unfit for quarantine”, describing mattresses as dirty, and saying that there were cockroaches in some areas. The Filipina also showed video footage of narrow bunk beds, many without mattresses, and cited the unhygienic public toilet. “I don’t think this is how a quarantine facility should be. We are going to get sick here,” she said in Filipino. On Friday, the Philippine Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a statement to address Deci’s concerns, thanking the OFW for “bringing this issue to our attention”. The DOT confirmed that Deci was “billeted at the 2GO ship assigned as a quarantine facility”. The DOT said that the “quarantine protocol is mandated to ensure the safety and well being of our arriving OFWs, before they return home to their families”. The Philippine authority clarified the quarantine procedures, saying that “manning and recruitment agencies are the ones arranging for the accommodation of OFWs (whether be it a hotel, other quarantine facility, among others)”. “If such coordination was made, the OFWs, upon arrival, will board a bus to be escorted by the PCG or the PNP going to their arranged accommodation. If no accommodation was arranged for them prior to landing, that is the time that they will be brought to Pier 15,” the DOT said.

Quarantine room arrangements

“On the matter of the room and bed arrangements, we would like to point out that most of the beds in the said vessel are built-in, fixed type, as part of the original ship design and configuration. The said vessel has been offered by 2GO to help our government in augmenting the requirements for quarantine facility. It should be highlighted that the vessel has a 1,200 passenger capacity, but, in order to ensure the observance of strict protocols on social distancing, we are only accommodating at most 400 persons,” the DOT said. The DOT said that some of the bunk beds did not have mattresses because “they were deliberately removed for non utilization. In a 4-bunk bed configuration, only one bed will be utilized.” The Philippine authority said that DOT Secretary Arthur Tugade “also directed maritime officials to coordinate with the ship owner to explore the possibility of removing the beds that are not in use”.

Free room accommodation

The DOT also clarified that although the room accommodation was free of charge for the 14-day mandatory quarantine, the P180 daily fee is “optional fees for the 3 meals (P60/meal) which 2Go is required to prepare and serve for the quarantined individuals. These are to be shouldered by the manning and recruitment agencies”. “In the meantime that the OFWs are adjusting, and with arrangements with the manpower agency and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) still in discussions, Secretary Arthur Tugade has directed the PCG and MARINA to temporarily shoulder the food expense and discuss among themselves, together with the manning/recruitment agencies how to go about the payment later on. And if the person would not want to avail of the in-house meals, they also have the option to buy food and other essentials at the mini mart located also inside the vessel,” the DOT said.

Cockroach issue addressed

The DOT also addressed the discovery of cockroaches in certain areas, saying that “personnel from 2Go were already alerted, and sanitation procedures have been immediately adopted. Rest assured that this issue will be fully addressed and mitigated.” The DOT assured OFWs it was working on “remedial action” for “any shortcoming”. “We appreciate the great sacrifices of our OFWs, and we would like to convey our gratitude to all of you. In these very challenging times, we also wish to assure you that your government is exhausting all efforts, foremost to uphold and protect your well-being,” the DOT said. ICA/Expat Media https://www.expatmedia.net/dubai-ofw-hopes-manila-quarantine-experience-will-help-filipinos/2020/04/ http://www.expatmedia.net/emirates-adds-3-flights-manila/2020/04/ http://www.expatmedia.net/food-assistance-filipinos-uae-avail/2020/04/ http://www.expatmedia.net/repatriation-jobless-filipinos-uae-avail/2020/04/ http://www.expatmedia.net/cash-assistance-filipinos-uae-claim-dh730/2020/04/
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